THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


TC  /  (v, 


s 


// 
/ 


) 


/• 


// 


A 

JOURNAL 

OF 

THE  LIFE, 

GOSPEL  LABOURS,  AND  CHRISTIAN  EXPERIENCES 

OF    THAT    FAITHFUL 


of  iessuss  Cfcrisst, 
JOHN     W  O  O  L  M  A  N, 

LATE  OF  MOUNT  HOLLY,  IN  THE  PROVINCE  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 
NORTH  AMERICA. 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED 

II  IS     WORKS, 


A  NEW  EDITION. 


"  The  leorfr  of  righteousness  shall  be.  peace ;    and  the  effect  of  righteousness 
quietness  and  assurance  for  ever." — ISAIAH  \xxiii.  17. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED    AND  SOLD  BY    WILLIAM    PHILLIPS,  GEORGE-YARD,  LOMBARD-STREET. 


1824. 


TESTIMONY  of  Friends  in  Yorkshire,  at  their 
Quarterly -meeting  held  at  York,  the  ^Ath  and 
2bth  of  the  third  month,  1773,  concerning  JOHN 
WOOLMAN,  of  Mount  Holly,  in  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  in  America,  who  departed  this  life 
at  the  hous?  of  our  friend  Thomas  Priestman,  in 
the  suburbs  of  this  City,  the  1th  of  the  \0th  month, 
1772,  and  was  interred  in  the  burial-ground  of 
friends  the  9th  of  the  same,  aged  about  fifty-two 
years. 

THIS  our  valuable  friend,  having  been  under  a 
religious  engagement  for  some  time,  to  visit  friends 
in  this  nation,  and  more  especially  us  in  the  north 
ern  parts,  undertook  the  same  in  full  concurrence 
and  near  sympathy  with  his  friends  and  brethren  at 
home ;  as  appeared  by  certificates  from  the  monthly 
and  quarterly  meetings  to  which  he  belonged,  and 
from  the  spring  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders, 
held  at  Philadelphia,  for  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey. 

He  arrived  in  the  city  of  London  the  beginning 
of  the  last  yearly  meeting,,  and  after  attending  that 
meeting,  travelled  northward,,  visiting  the  quar 
terly  meetings  of  Hertfordshire,,  Buckinghamshire, 
Northamptonshire,  Oxfordshire,  and  Worcester 
shire,  and  divers  particular  meetings  in  his  way. 


He  visited  many  meetings  on  the  west  side  of 
this  county,  also  some  in  Lancashire  and  West 
moreland,  from  whence  he  came  to  our  quarterly 
meeting-  in  the  last  ninth  month,  and,  though  much 
out  of  health,  yet  was  enabled  to  attend  all  the 
sittings  of  that  meeting  except  the  last. 

His  disorder  then,  which  proved  the  small-pox, 
increased  speedily  upon  him,  and  was  very  afflict 
ing  ;  under  which  he  was  supported  in  much  meek 
ness,  patience,  and  Christian  fortitude.  To  those 
who  attended  him  in  his  illness,  his  mind  appeared 
to  be  centered  in  divine  love  ;  under  the  precious 
influence  whereof  we  believe  he  finished  his  course, 
and  entered  into  the  mansions  of  everlasting  rest 

In  the  early  part  of  his  illness  he  requested  a 
friend  to  write,  and  he  broke  forth  thus. 

ff  O  Lord  my  God !  the  amazing  horrors  of 
darkness  were  gathered  around  me  and  covered  me 
all  over,  and  I  saw  no  way  to  go  forth  ;  I  felt  the 
misery  of  my  fellow  creatures  separated  from  the 
divine  harmony,  and  it  was  heavier  than  I  could 
bear,  and  I  was  crushed  down  under  it;  I  lifted 
up  my  hand,  and  stretched  out  my  arm,  but  there 
was  none  to  help  me.  I  looked  round  about,  and 
was  amazed  :  in  the  depth  of  misery,  O  Lord !  I 
remembered  that  thou  art  omnipotent,  that  I  had 
called  thee  father,  and  I  felt  that  I  loved  thee,  and 
I  was  made  quiet  in  thy  will,  and  I  waited  for 
deliverance  from  thee ;  thou  hadst  pity  upon  me, 
when  no  man  could  help  me ;  I  saw  that  meekness 
under  suffering  was  shewed  to  us  in  the  most  affect 
ing  example  of  thy  Son,  and  thou  wast  teaching  me 


5 

to  follow  him ;  and  I  said,  thy  Will,  O  Father,  be 
done/' 

Many  more  of  his  weighty  expressions  might 
have  been  inserted  here  ;  I  nit  it  was  deemed  un 
necessary,  they  being  already  published  in  print. 

He  was  a  man  endued  with  a  large  natural  ca 
pacity  ;  arid,  being  obedient  to  the  manifestations 
of  Divine  Grace,  having  in  patience  and  humility 
endured  many  deep  baptisms,  he  became  thereby 
sanctified  and  fitted  for  the  Lord's  work,  and  was 
truly  serviceable  in  his  Church.  Dwelling  in  awful 
fear  and  watchfulness,  he  was  careful  in  his  public 
appearances  to  feel  the  putting  forth  of  the  Divine 
Hand  ;  so  that  the  spring  of  the  gospel  ministry 
often  flowed  through  him  with  great  sweetness  and 
purity,  as  a  refreshing  stream  to  the  weary  travel 
lers  towards  the  city  of  God.  Skilful  in  dividing 
the  word,  he  was  furnished  by  Him  in  whom  are 
hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  to 
communicate  freely  to  the  several  states  of  the 
people  where  his  lot  was  cast.  His  conduct  at 
other  times  was  seasoned  with  like  watchful  circum 
spection  and  attention  to  the  guidance  of  Divine 
wisdom,  which  rendered  his  whole  conversation 
uniformly  edifying. 

He  was  fully  persuaded  that,  as  the  life  of  Christ 
comes  to  reign  in  the  earth,  all  abuse  and  unne 
cessary  oppression,  both  of  the  human  and  brute 
creation,  will  coins  to  an  end  ;  but  under  the  sense 
of  a  deep  revolt,  and  an  overflowing  stream  of 
unrighteousness,  his  life  has  been  often  a  life  of 
mourning. 


He  was  deeply  concerned  on  account  of  that 
inhuman  and  iniquitous  practice  of  making  slaves 
of  the  people  of  Africa,  or  holding  them  in  that 
state  ;  and  on  that  account,  we  understand  he  hath 
not  only  written  some  books,  but  travelled  much  on 
the  continent  of  America,   in  order  to  make  the 
negro-masters  (especially   those  in  profession  with 
us)  sensible  of  the  evil  of  such  a  practice ;  and, 
though   in   this  journey  to  England,   he  was  far 
removed  from  the  outward  sign  of  their  sufferings, 
yet  his  deep  exercise  of  mind  remained  ;  as  appears 
by  a  short  treatise  he  wrote  in  this  journey,  and 
frequent  concern  to  open  the  miserable  state  of 
this  deeply  injured  people.     His  testimony  in  the 
last  meeting  he  attended  was  on  this  subject,  where 
in  he  remarked,  that,  as  we  as  a  society,  when 
under  outward  sufferings,  had  often  fonnd  it  our 
concern  to  lay  them  before  those  in  authority,  and 
thereby,  in  the  Lord's  time,  had  obtained  relief, 
so  he  recommended  this  oppressed  part  of  the  cre 
ation   to  our  notice ;  that  we  may,  as  way  may 
open,  represent  their  sufferings  in  an  individual,  if 
not  a  society  capacity  to  those  in  authority. 

Deeply  sensible  that  the  desire  to  gratify  people's 
inclinations  in  luxury  and  superfluities  is  the  prin 
cipal  ground  of  oppression,  arid  the  occasion  of 
many  unnecessary  wants,  he  believed  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  be  a  pattern  of  great  self-denial,  with  re 
spect  to  the  things  of  this  life,  and  earnestly  to 
labour  with  friends  in  the  meekness  of  wisdom,  to 
impress  on  their  minds  the  great  importance  of  our 
testimony  in  these  things,  recommending  to  the 


guidance  of  the  blessed  Truth  in  this  and  all  other 
concerns,  and  cautioning  such  as  are  experienced 
therein,  against  contenting  themselves  with  acting 
up  to  the  standard  of  others,  but  to  be  careful  to 
make  the  standard  of  Truth,,  manifested  to  them,  the 
measure  of  their  obedience.  <f  For/'  said  he, ee  that 
purity  of  life  which  proceeds  from  faithfulness  in 
following  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  that  state  where  our 
minds  are  devoted  to  serve  God,  and  all  our  wants 
are  bounded  by  his  wisdom  :  this  habitation  has 
often  been  opened  before  me  as  a  place  of  retire 
ment  for  the  children  of  the  light,  where  they  may 
stand  separated  from  that  which  disordereth  arid 
confuseth  the  affairs  of  society,  and  where  we  have 
a  testimony  of  our  innocence  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  behold  us." 

We  conclude  with  fervent  desires,  that  we  as  a 
people  may  thus,  by  our  example,  promote  the 
Lord's  work  in  the  earth;  and,  our  hearts  being 
prepared,  may  unite  in  prayer  to  the  great  Lord 
of  the  harvest,  that,  as  in  his  infinite  wisdom  he 
hath  greatly  stripped  the  church,  by  removing  of 
late  divers  faithful  ministers  and  elders,  he  may  be 
pleased  to  send  forth  many  more  faithful  labourers 
into  his  harvest. 


A  TESTIMONY  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
held  in  Burlington,  the  first  day  of  the  eighth 
month,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1774,  concerning 
our  esteemed  friend,  JOHN  WOOL  MAN,  deceased. 

HE  was  born  in  Northampton,  in  the  county  of 
Burlington,  and  province  of  West  New  Jersey,  in 
the  eighth  month,  1720,  of  religious  parents,  who 
instructed  him  very  early  in  the  principles  of  the 
Christian  religion,  as  professed  by  the  people  called 
Quakers ;  which  he  esteemed  a  blessing  to  him, 
even  in  his  younger  years,  tending  to  preserve  him 
from  the  infection  of  wicked  children  :  but  through 
the  workings  of  the  enemy,  and  levity  incident  to 
youth,  he  frequently  deviated  from  those  parental 
precepts ;  by  which  he  laid  a  renewed  foundation 
for  repentance,  that  was  finally  succeeded  by  a 
godly  sorrow  not  to  be  repented  of;  and  so  became 
acquainted  with  that  sanctifying  power  which  qua 
lifies  for  true  gospel  ministry,  into  which  he  was 
called  about  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  ; 
and,  by  a  faithful  use  of  the  talents  committed  to 
him,  he  experienced  an  increase,  until  he  arrived 
at  the  state  of  a  father,  capable  of  dividing  the  word 
aright  to  the  different  states  he  ministered  unto  ; 
dispensing  milk  to  babes,  and  meat  to  those  of 


riper  years.  Thus  he  found  the  efficacy  of  that 
power  to  arise,,  which  in  his  own  expressions,  "pre 
pares  the  creature  to  stand  like  a  trumpet  through 
which  the  Lord  speaks  to  his  people/' — He  was  a 
loving  husband,  a  tender  father,  and  very  humane 
to  every  part  of  the  creation  under  his  care. 

His  concern  for  the  poor  and  those  in  affliction 
•was  evident  by  his  visits  to  them,  whom  he  fre 
quently  relieved  by  his  assistance  and  charity.  He 
was  for  many  years  deeply  exercised  on  account  of 
the  poor  enslaved  Africans,  whose  cause,  as  he  some 
times  mentioned,  lay  almost  continually  upon  him; 
and  to  obtain  liberty  to  those  captives,  belaboured 
both  in  public  and  in  private,  and  was  favoured  to 
see  his  endeavours  crowned  with  considerable  suc 
cess.  He  was  particularly  desirous  that  friends 
should  not  be  instrumental  to  lay  burdens  on  this 
oppressed  people,  but  remember  the  days  of  suffer 
ing  from  which  they  had  been  providentially  deli 
vered  ;  that,  if  times  of  trouble  should  return,  no 
injustice  dealt  to  those  in  slavery  might  rise  in  judg 
ment  against  us,  but  being  clear,  we  might  on  such 
occasions  address  the  Almighty  with  a  degree  of 
confidence  for  his  interposition  and  relief;  being 
particularly  careful  as  to  himself,  not  to  counte 
nance  slavery  even  by  the  use  of  those  conveniences 
of  life  which  were  furnished  by  their  labour. 

He  was  desirous  to  have  his  own,  and  the  minds 
of  others,  redeemed  from  the  pleasures  and  immo 
derate  profits  of  this  world,  and  to  fix  them  on 
those  joys  which  fade  not  away  ;  his  principal  care 
being  after  a  life  of  purity,  endeavouring  to  avoid 


10 

not  only  the  grosser  pollutions)  but  those  also 
which,  appearing  in  a  more  refined  dress,  are  not 
sufficiently  guarded  against  by  some  well-disposed 
people.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  remark 
able  for  the  plainness  and  simplicity  of  his  dress, 
and  as  much  as  possible,  avoided  the  use  of  plate, 
costly  furniture  and  feasting ;  thereby  endeavouring 
to  become  an  example  of  temperance  and  self-de 
nial,  which  he  believed  himself  called  unto  ;  and 
was  favoured  with  peace  therein,  although  it  carried 
the  appearance  of  great  austerity  in  the  view  of 
some.  He  was  very  moderate  in  his  charges  in  the 
way  of  business,  and  in  his  desires  after  gain  ;  and, 
though  a  man  of  industry,  avoided,  and  strove  much 
to  lead  others  out  of  extreme  labour  and  anxious- 
ness  after  perishable  things ;  being  desirous  that  the 
strength  of  our  bodies  might  not  be  spent  in  pro 
curing  things  unprofitable,  and  that  we  might  use 
moderation  and  kindness  to  the  brute  animals  un 
der  our  care,  to  prize  the  use  of  them  as  a  great 
favour,  and  by  no  means  abuse  them ;  that  the 
gifts  of  Providence  should  be  thankfully  received 
and  applied  to  the  uses  they  were  designed  for. 

He  several  times  opened  a  school  at  Mount 
Holly,  for  the  instruction  of  poor  friends'  children 
and  others;  being  concerned  for  their  help  and 

improvement  therein. His  love  and  care  for  the 

rising  youth  among  us  was  truly  great,  recommend 
ing  to  parents  and  those  who  have  the  charge  of 
them,  to  chuse  conscientious  and  pious  tutors  ;  say 
ing,  "  It  is  a  lovely  sight  to  behold  innocent  chil 
dren/'  and  that,  l<-  to  labour  for  their  help  against 


II 

that  which  would  mar  the  beauty  of  their  minds.,  is 
a  debt  we  owe  them/' 

His  ministry  was  sound,  very  deep  and  penetra 
ting,  sometimes  pointing  out  the  dangerous  situation 
which  indulgence  and  custom  lead  into  ;  frequently 
exhorting  others,  especially  the  youth,  not  to  be 
discouraged  at  the  difficulties  which  occur,  but  to 
press  after  purity.  He  often  expressed  an  earnest 
engagement  that  pure  wisdom  should  be  attended 
to,  which  would  lead  into  lowliness  of  mind  and 
resignation  to  the  divine  will,  in  which  state  small 
possessions  here  would  be  sufficient. 

In  transacting  the  affairs  of  discipline,  his  judg 
ment  was  sound  and  clear^.  and  he  was  very  useful 
in  treating  with  those  who  had  done  amiss ;  he  vi 
sited  such  in  a  private  way  in  that  plainness  which 
truth  dictates,  showing  great  tenderness  and  Chris 
tian  forbearance.  He  was  a  constant  attender  of 
our  yearly-meeting,  in  which  he  was  a  good  exam 
ple.,  and  particularly  useful ;  assisting  in  the  business 
thereof  with  great  weight  and  attention.  He  seve 
ral  times  visited  most  of  the  meetings  of  friends  in 
this  and  the  neighbouring  provinces,  with  the  con 
currence  of  the  monthly-meeting  to  which  he  be 
longed,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  had  good 
service  therein ;  generally  or  always  expressing  at 
his  return  how  it  had  fared  with  him,  and  the  evi 
dence  of  peace  in  his  rnind  for  thus  performing  his 
duty.  He  was  often  concerned  with  other  friends  in 
the  important  service  of  visiting  families,  which  he 
was  enabled  to  go  through  to  satisfaction. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  ministers  and 


12 

elders  for  this  quarter,  at  the  foot  of  a  Jist  of  the 
members  of  that  meeting,  made  about  five  years 
before  his  death,  we  find  in  his  hand-writing  the 
following  observation  and  reflections.  Cf  As  looking 
over  the  minutes  made  by  persons  who  have  put  off 
this  body,  hath  sometimes  revived  in  me  a  thought 
how  ages  pass  away ;  so  this  list  may  probably  re 
vive  a  like  thought  in  some,  when  1,  and  the  rest  of 
the  persons  above-named,,  are  centered  in  another 
state  of  being.  —The  Lord,  who  was  the  guide  of 
my  youth,  hath  in  tender  mercies  helped  me  hi 
therto  ;  he  hath  healed  me  of  wounds,  he  hath  help 
ed  me  out  of  grievous  entanglements  ;  he  remains 
to  be  the  strength  of  my  life  ;  to  whom  I  desire  to 
devote  myself  in  time,  and  in  eternity." 

(Signed,)  JOHN  WOOLMAN. 

In  the  twelfth  month,  1771,  he  acquainted  this 
meeting  that  he  found  his  mind  drawn  towards  a 
religious  visit  to  friends  in  some  parts  of  England, 
particularly  in  Yorkshire.  In  the  first  month,  1772, 
he  obtained  our  certificate,  which  was  approved 
and  indorsed  by  our  quarterly  meeting,  and  by  the 
half  year's  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  at  Phila 
delphia.  He  embarked  on  his  voyage  in  the  fifth, 
and  arrived  in  London  in  the  sixth  month  follow 
ing,  at  the  time  of  their  annual  meeting  in  that 
city.  During  his  short  visit  to  friends  in  that  king 
dom,  we  are  informed  that  his  services  were  accept 
able  and  edifying  In  his  last  illness  he  uttered 
many  lively  and  comfortable  expressions,  being, 
f.  perfectly  resigned,  having  no  will  cither  to  live  or 


13 

die/*  as  appears  by  the  testimony  of  friends  at  York 
in  Great  Britain,  in  the  suburbs  whereof,  at  the  house 
of  our  friend  T  homas  Priestman,  he  died  of  the  small 
pox,  on  the  seventh  day  of  the  tenth  month,  1772, 
and  was  buried  in  friends  burial  ground  in  that  city, 
on  the  ninth  of  the  same,  after  a  solid  meeting,  held 
on  the  occasion,  at  their  great  meeting-house,  He 
was  aged  near  fifty-two,  a  minister  upwards  of 
thirty  years,  during  which  time  he  belonged  to 
Mount  Holly  particular  meeting,  which  he  diligently 
attended  when  at  home  and  in  health  of  body,  and 
his  labours  of  love  and  pious  care  for  the  prosperity 
of  friends  in  the  blesssed  Truth,  we  hope,  may  not 
be  forgotten,  but  that  his  good  works  may  be  re 
membered  to  edification. 

Signed  in,  and  by  order  of  the  said  meeting,  by 

SAMUEL  ALLISON,  Clerk. 

Read  and  approved  at  our  quarterly-meeting,  held 
at  Burlington,  the  29th  of  the  8th  month,  1774. 

Signed  by  order  of  said  meeting, 

DANIEL  SMITH,  Clerk. 


A 

JOURNAL          <• 

OF    THE 

LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

OF 

JOHN     WOOLMAN, 

IN    THE    SERVICE  OF    THE    GOSPEL. 


CHAP.  I. 

His  birth  and  parentage,  with  some  account  of  the 
operations  of  divine  grace  on  his  mind  in  his  youth 
— His  first  appearance  in  the  ministry — and  his 
considerations,  white  young,  on  the  keeping  of 
slaves. 


I  HAVE  often  felt  a  motion  of  love  to  leave  some 
hints  in  writing  of  my  experience  of  the  goodness  of 
God  ;  and  now,  in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  my  age, 
I  begin  this  work. 

I  was  born  in  Northampton,  in  Burlington  coun 
ty,  West  Jersey,  in  the  year  1720;  and  before  I 
was  seven  years  old  I  began  to  be  acquainted  with 
the  operations  of  divine  love.  Through  the  care  of 


1C 

my  parents,  I  was  taught  to  read  near  as  soon  as  I 
was  capable  of  it ;  and  as  I  went  from  school  one 
seventh  day,  I  remember,  while  my  companions 
went  to  play  by  the  way,  I  went  forward  out  of 
sight,  and  sitting  down  I  read  the  22nd  chapter  of 
the  Revelations.  "  He  showed  me  a  pure  river  of 
water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of  the 
throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb,  &c."  and  in  reading- 
it,  my  mind  was  drawn  to  seek  after  that  pure  habi 
tation,  which,  I  then  believed,  God  had  prepared  for 
his  servants.  The  place  where  I  sat,  and  the  sweet 
ness  that  attended  my  mind,  remains  fresh  in  my 
memory. 

This,  and  the  like  gracious  visitations,  had  that 
effect  upon  me,  that  when  boys  used  ill  language,  it 
troubled  me  ;  and,  through  the  continued  mercies  of 
God,  I  was  preserved  from  if. 

The  pious  instructions  of  my  parents  were  often 
fresh  in  my  mind  when  1  happened  to  be  among 
wicked  children,  and  were  of  use  to  me.  My  pa 
rents,  having  a  large  family  of  children,  used  fre 
quently,  on  first-days  after  meeting,  to  put  us  to 
read  in  the  holy  scriptures,  or  some  religious  books, 
one  after  another,  the  rest  sitting  by  without  much 
conversation  ;  which,  I  have  since  often  thought, 
was  a  good  practice.  From  what  I  had  read  and 
heard,  I  believed  there  had  been,  in  past  ages,  peo 
ple  who  walked  in  uprightness  before  God,  in  a  de 
gree  exceeding  any  that  I  knew  or  heard  of,  now 
living  :  and  the  apprehension  of  there  being  less 
steadiness  and  firmness  amongst  people  in  this  age 
than  in  past  ages,  often  troubled  me  while  I  was  a 
child. 


/  17 

Jr™*£  tiling  remarkable  in  my  childhood  was,  that 
/  once  going  to  a  neighbour's  house,,  1  saw  on  the 
/  \vay  a  robin  sitting  on  her  nest,  and  as  I  came 
near  she  went  off,  but  having  young  ones,,  flew 
about,  and  with  many  cries  expressed  her  concern 
for  them  ;  I  stood  and  threw  stones  at  her,  until 
one  striking  her,  she  fell  down  dead.  At  first  I  was 
pleased  with  the  exploit,  but  after  a  few  minutes  was 
seized  with  horror,  as  having,  in  a  sportive  way, 
killed  an  innocent  creature  while  she  was  careful  for 
her  young.  1  beheld  her  lying  dead,  and  thought 
those  young  ones,  for  which  she  was  so  careful, 
must  now  perish  for  want  of  their  dam  to  nourish 
them  ;  and  after  some  painful  considerations  on 
the  subject,  I  climbed  up  the  tree,  took  ail  the 
young  birds,  and  killed  them  ;  supposing  that  bet 
ter  than  to  leave  them  to  pine  away  and  die  mise 
rably  :  arid  believed,  in  this  case,  that  scripture 
proverb  was  ful filled,  fc  The  tender  mercies  of  the 
wicked  are  cruel."  I  then  went  on  my  errand,  but, 
for  some  hours,  could  think  of  little  else  but  the 
cruelties  I  had  committed,  and  was  much  troubled. 
Thus  He,  whose  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his 

•*•"•««•«»*,«,  •MW,,^:n.t,f"-''x-~ -«•'•  •''•"  ^^•'~'^:*>l*U->-'nw:*^<^ 

works,  hath  placed  a  principle  in  the  human  mind, 

— - f*.*-,™.*^-- JU-.^.****^ Jfc^K-w* *«***»*«**••*»  ,* .MPII  I.  IM  (MM 

which  incites  to    exercise  goodness  towards  ever^, 

*taw>VHv«iM«f*MiM*»M«MMaM|«Mq*M«M***l'^^  .          . 

living  creature;  and  this  being  singly  attende44^ 
jM>ople  become  tender-hearted  and  sympathizing  • 
but  EeThffTrequenTT^^  reiect.qdJPKe  mind 

^^A^.^^^.^.^^^i^^ •  - .  • .  '"  ta*a 

becomes  shut  up  in  a  contrary  disposition. 

About  tE'e'Twelftri ^eair^oT^Sfiy'age,  my  fathe 
being  abroad,  my  mother   reproved  me  for  some 
misconduct,  to  which  I  made  an  undutiful  reply  ; 

B 


18 

and  the  next  first  clay,  as  I  was  with  my  father  re 
turning  from  meeting,  he  told  me  he  understood  I 
had  behaved  amiss  to  my  mother,  and  advised  me 
to  be  more  careful  in  future.  I  knew  myself  blame- 
able,  and  in  shame  and  confusion  remained  silent. 
Being  thus  awakened  to  a  sense  of  my  wickedness, 
I  felt  remorse  in  my  mind,  and  getting  home  I  re 
tired  and  prayed  to  the  Lord  to  forgive  me  ;  and 
do  not  remember  that  I  ever,  after  that,  spoke 
unhandsomely  to  either  of  my  parents,  however 
foolish  in  some  other  things. 

Having  attained  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  I  began 
to  love  wanton  company;  and  though  I  was  pre 
served  from  profane  language,  or  scandalous  con 
duct,  still  I  perceived  a  plant  in  me  which  produced 
much  wild  grapes  :  yet  my  merciful  Father  forsook 
me  not  utterly,  but  at  times,  through  his  grace,  I 
was  brought  seriously  to  consider  my  ways  ;  and  the 
sight  of  my  backslidings  affected  me  with  sorrow  ; 
but  for  want  of  rightly  attending  to  the  reproofs  of 
instruction,  vanity  was  added  to  vanity,  and  repent 
ance  to  repentance.  Upon  the  whole,  my  mind  was 
more  and  more  alienated  from  the  truth,  and  I  has 
tened  toward  destruction.  While  I  meditate  on  the 
gulf  towards  which  I  travelled,  and  reflect  on  my 
youthful  disobedience,  for  these  things  I  weep,  mine 
eye  runneth  down  with  water. 

Advancing  in  age,  the  number  of  my  acquaint 
ance  increased,  and  thereby  my  way  grew  more  dif 
ficult.  Though  I  had  found  comfort  in  reading  the 
holy  scriptures,  and  thinking  on  heavenly  things,  I 
was  now  estranged  therefrom  :  I  knew  I  was  going 


19 

from  the  flock  of  Christ,  and  had  no  resolution  to 
return  ;  hence  serious  reflections  were  uneasy  to 
me,  and  youthful  vanities  and  diversions  my  great 
est  pleasure.  Running  in  this  road  I  found  many 
like  myself;  and  we  associated  in  that  which  is  re 
verse  to  true  friendship. 

But  in  this  swift  race  it  pleased  God  to  visit  me 
with  sickness,  so  that  I  doubted  of  recovering;  and 
then  did  darkness,  horror,  and  amazement, with  full 
force,  seize  me,  even  when  my  pain  and  distress  of 
body  were  very  great.  I  thought  it  would  have 
been  better  for  me  never  to  have  had  a  being,  than 
to  see  the  day  which  I  now  saw.  I  was  filled 
with  confusion ;  and  in  great  affliction,  both  of 
mind  and  body,  I  lay  and  bewailed  myself.  I  had 
not  confidence  to  lift  up  my  cries  to  God,  whom  I 
had  thus  offended  ;  but,  in  a  deep  sense  of  my  great 
folly,  I  was  humbled  before  him.  At  length,  that 
word  which  is  as  a  fire  and  a  hammer,  broke  and 
dissolved  my  rebellious  heart,  and  then  my  cries 
were  put  up  in  contrition  ;  and  in  the  multitude  of 
his  mercies  I  found  inward  relief,  and  felt  a  close 
engagement,  that  if  he  was  pleased  to  restore  my 
health,  I  might  walk  humbly  before  him. 

After  my  recovery,  this  exercise  remained  with 
me  a  considerable  time  ;  but,  by  degrees,  giving 
way  to  youthful  vanities,  they  gained  strength,  and 
getting  with  wanton  young  people,  I  lost  ground. 
The  Lord  had  been  very  gracious,  and  spoke  peace 
to  me  in  the  time  of  my  distress  ;  and  I  now  most 
ungratefully  turned  again  to  folly  ;  on  which  ac 
count,  at  times,  I  felt  sharp  reproof,  but  I  did  not 

B2 


20 

get  low  enough  to  cry  for  help,  I  was  not.  so  hardy 
as  to  commit  things  scandalous  ;  but  to  exceed  in 
vanity,,  and  to  promote  mirth,  was  my  chief  study. 
Still  I  retained  a  love  and  esteem  for  pious  people  ; 
and  their  company  brought  an  awe  upon  me.  My 
dear  parents  several  times  admonished  me  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  their  admonition  entered  into 
my  heart,  and  had  a  good  effect  for  a  season  ;  but 
not  getting  deep  enough  to  pray  rightly,  the 
tempter,  when  he  came,  found  entrance.  I  remem 
ber,  once  having  spent  a  part  of  the  day  in  wanton 
ness  ;  as  Iwent  to  bed  at  night  there  lay  in  a  window, 
near  my  bed,  a  bible,  which  I  opened,  and  first  cast 
my  eye  on  the  text,  "  We  lie  down  in  our  shame, 
and  our  confusion  covers  us ;"  this  I  knew  to  be 
my  case  :  and  meeting  with  so  unexpected  a  re 
proof,  I  was  somewhat  affected  with  it,  and  went  to 
bed  under  remorse  of  conscience  ;  which  I  soon  cast 
off  again. 

Thus  time  past  on  ;  my  heart  was  replenished 
with  mirth  and  wantonness,  while  pleasing  scenes 
of  vanity  were  presented  to  my  imagination,  till  I 
attained  the  age  of  eighteen  years  ;  near  which  time 
I  felt  the  judgments  of  God,  in  my  soul,  like  a  con 
suming  tire;  and  looking  over  my  past  life,  the 
prospect  was  moving — I  was  often  sad,  and  lunged 
to  be  delivered  from  those  vanities  ;  then  again,  my 
heart  was  strongly  inclined  to  them,  and  there  was 
in  me  a  sore  conflict.  At  times  I  turned  to  folly  ; 
and  then  again,  sorrow  and  confusion  took  hold  of 
me.  In  a  while  I  resolved  totally  to  leave  off  some 
of  my  vanities;  but  there  was  a  secret  reserve  in 


21 

my  heart,  of  the  more  refined  part  of  them,  and  I 
was  not  low  enough  to  find  true  peace.     Thus,  for 
some  months,,  I  had  "Teat  troubles  ;  there  remain 
ing  in   me  an  unsu!  jected  will,  which  rendered  my 
labours  fruitless.,  till  at  length,  through  the  merciful 
continuance  of  heavenly  visitations,  I  was  made  to 
bow  down  in  spirit  before  the  Lord.     1  remember 
one  evening  I  had  spent  some  time  in  reading  a  pious 
author  ;  and  walking  out  alone,  I  humbly  prayed 
to  the  Lord  for  his  help,  that  I  might  be  delivered 
from  all  those  vanities  which  so  ensnared  me.  Thus 
being  brought  low,  he  helped  me  ;  and  as  I  learned 
to  bear  the  cross,  I  felt  refreshment  to  come  from 
his   presence ;    but  not  keeping    in   that  strength 
which  gave  victory,  I  lost  ground  again  ;  the  sense 
of  which  greatly  affected  me  :  and  I  sought  deserts 
and   lonely  places,  and  there  with  tears  did  con 
fess  my  sins  to  God,  and  humbly  craved   help  of 
him.     And  I  may  say  with  reverence,  he  was  near 
to  me  in  my  troubles,  and  in  those  times  of  humi 
liation  opened  my  ear  to  discipline.     1  was  now  led 
to  look  seriously  at  the  means  by  which    I    was 
drawn  from  the  pure  truth,  and  learned  this,  that  if  ; 
1  would  live  in  the  life  which  the  faithful  servants 
of  God  lived  in,  I  must  not  go  into  company  as  I 
heretofore  in  my  own  will ;  but  all  the  cravings  of  f 
sense  must  be  governed  by  a  divine  principle.     In  \ 
times  of  sorrow  and  abasement  these  instructions 
were   sealed  upon    me,   and  I   felt   the   power  of 
Christ  prevail  over  selfish  desires,  so  that  I  was 
preserved  in  a  good  degree  of  steadiness;  arid  be 
ing  young,  and  believing,  at  that  time,  that  a  single 


life  was  best  for  me,  I  was  strengthened  to  keep 
from  such  company  as  had  often  been  a  snare  to  me. 

I  kept  steadily  to  meetings  ;  spent  first  days  af 
ternoon  chiefly  in  reading  the  scriptures  and  other 
good  books  ;  and  was  early  convinced  in  my  mind,, 
that  true  religion  consisted  in  an  inward  life,  where 
in  the  heart  doth  love  and  reverence  God  the  Crea 
tor,  and  learns  to  exercise  true  justice  and  good 
ness,  not  only  toward  all  men,  but  also  toward  the 
brute  creatures — that  as  the  mind  was  moved,  by 
an  inward  principle,  to  love  God  as  an  invisible,  in 
comprehensible  Being  ;  by  the  same  principle  it 
was  moved  to  love  him  in  all  his  manifestations  in 
the  visible  world — thai,  as  by  his  breath,  the  flame 
of  life  was  kindled  in  all  animal  sensible  creatures, 
to  say  we  love  God  as  unseen,  and  at  the  same  time 
exercise  cruelty  toward  the  least  creature  moving 
by  his  life,  or  by  life  derived  from  him,  was  a  con 
tradiction  in  itself. 

I  found  no  narrowness  respecting  sects  and  opi 
nions  ;  but  believed,  that  sincere  upright  hearted 
people,  in  every  society,  who  truly  love  God,  were 
accepted  of  him. 

As  I  lived  under  the  cross,  and  simply  followed 
the  openings  of  truth,  my  mind,  from  day  to  day, 
was  more  enlightened  ;  my  former  acquaintance 
were  left  to  judge  of  me  as  they  would,  for  I  found 
it  safest  for  me  to  live  in  private,  and  keep  these 
things  sealed  up  in  my  own  breast.  While  I  silently 
ponder  on  that  change  wrought  in  me,  I  find  no  lan 
guage  equal  to  it,  nor  any  means  to  convey  to  an 
other  a  clear  idea  of  it.  I  looked  upon  the  works  of 


23 

God  in  this  visible  creation,  and  an  aw  fulness  co 
vered  me.  My  heart  was  tender  and  often  contrite,, 
and  universal  love  to  rny  fellow-creatures  increased 
in  me;  this  will  be  understood  by  such  who  have 
trodden  in  the  same  path.  Some  glances  of  real 
beauty  may  be  seen  in  their  faces,,  who  dwell  in  true 
meekness. 

There  is  a  harmony  in  the  sound  of  that  voice  to 
which  divine  love  gives  utterance,,  and  some  appear 
ance  of  right  order  in  their  temper  and  conduct,, 
whose  passions  are  regulated  ;  yet  all  these  do  not 
fully  shew  forth  that  inward  life  to  such  who  have 
not  felt  it ;  but  this  white  stone  and  new  name  is 
known  rightly  to  such  only  who  have  it. 

Now.,  though  1  had  been  thus  strengthened  to 
bear  the  cross,  I  still  found  myself  in  great  danger,, 
having  many  weaknesses  attending  me,  and  strong 
temptations  to  wrestle  with  ;  in  the  feeling  whereof 
I  frequently  withdrew  into  private  places,  and  often 
with  tears  besought  the  Lord  to  help  me.,  whose 
gracious  ear  was  open  to  my  cry. 

All  this  time  I  lived  with  my  parents,  and  wrought 
on  the  plantation  ;  and  having  had  schooling  pretty 
well  for  a  planter,  1  used  to  improve  it  in  winter 
evenings,  and  other  leisure  times ;  and  being  now 
in  the  twenty-first  year  of  my  age,  a  man,  in  much 
business  at  shop-keeping  and  baking,  asked  me,  if 
I  would  hire  with  him  to  tend  shop  and  keep 
books.  I  acquainted  my  father  with  the  proposal ; 
and,  after  some  deliberation,  it  was  agreed  for  me 
logo. 

At  home  I  had  lived  retired  ;  and  now  having  a 


prospect  of  being'  much  in  the  way  of  company,  I 
felt  frequent  and  fervent  cries  in  my  heart  to  God, 
the  Father  of  mercies,  that  he  would  preserve  ine 
from  all  taint  and  corruption  ;  that,  in  this  more 
public  employment,  I  might  serve  Him,  my  gra 
cious  Redeemer,  in  that  humility  and  self-denial, 
with  which  I  had  been,  in  a  small  degree,  exercised 
in  a  more  private  life.  The  man,  who  employed 
me,  furnished  a  shop  in  Mount  Holly,  about  five 
miles  from  my  father's  house,  and  six  from  his  own  ; 
and  there  I  lived  alone  and  tended  his  shop.  Short 
ly  after  my  settlement  here,  I  was  visited  by  several 
young  people  my  former  acquaintance,  who  knew 
not  but  vanities  would  be  as  agreeable  to  me  now 
as  ever ;  and,  at  these  times,  1  cried  to  the  Lord  in 
secret  for  wisdom  and  strength ;  for  I  felt  myself 
encompassed  with  difficulties,  and  had  fresh  occa 
sion  to  bewail  the  follies  of  time  past,  in  contract 
ing  a  familiarity  with  libertine  people :  and  as  I 
had  now  left  my  father's  house  outwardly,  I  found 
my  heavenly  Father  to  be  merciful  to  me  beyond 
what  I  can  express. 

By  day  I  was  much  amongst  people,  and  had 
many  trials  to  go  .through  ;  but  in  the  evenings,  I 
was  mostly  alone,  and  may  with  thankfulness  ac 
knowledge,  that  in  those  times  the  spirit  of  suppli 
cation  was  often  poured  upon  me ;  under  which  I 
was  frequently  exercised,  and  felt  my  strength 
renewed. 

In  a  few  months  after  I  came  here,  my  master 
bought  several  Scotchmen  servants,  from  on  board 


25 

a  vessel,  and  brought  them  to  Mount  Holly  to  sell ; 
one  of  whom  was  taken  sick  and  died. 

In  the  latter]  part  of  his  sickness,  he,  being  deli 
rious.,  used  to  curse  and  swear  most  sorrowfully ; 
and  the  next  night  after  his  burial,  I  was  left  to 
sleep  alone  in  the  same  chamber  where  he  died. 
I  perceived  in  me  a  tirnorousness  ;  I  knew,  however, 
I  had  not  injured  the  man,  but  assisted  in  taking 
care  of  him  according  to  my  capacity  ;  and  was  not 
free  to  ask  any  one,  on  that  occasion,  to  sleep  with 
me.  Nature  was  feeble  ;  but  every  trial  was  a  fresh 
incitement  to  give  myself  up  wholly  to  the  service 
of  God,  for  I  found  no  helper  like  him  in  times  of 
trouble. 

After  a  while,  my  former  acquaintance  gave  over 
expecting  me  as  one  of  their  company  ;  and  I  be 
wail  to  be  known  to  some  whose  conversation  was 

o 

helpful  to  me.  And  now,  as  I  had  experienced  the 
love  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  redeem  me 
from  many  pollutions,  and  to  be  a  succour  to  ine 
through  a  sea  of  conflicts,  with  which  no  person  was 
fully  acquainted  ;  and  as  my  heart  was  often  en 
larged  in  this  heavenly  principle,  I  felt  a  tender 
compassion  for  the  youth,  who  remained  entangled 
in  snares  like  those  which  had  entangled  me,  from 
one  time  to  another,  This  love  and  tenderness  in 
creased  ;  and  my  mind  was  more  strongly  engaged 
for  the  good  of  my  fellow-creatures.  1  went  to 
meetings  in  an  awful  frame  of  mind,  and  endea 
voured  to  be  inwardly  acquainted  with  the  language 
of  the  true  Shepherd  ;  and  one  day  being  under  a 
strong  exercise  of  spirit,  1  stood  up,  and  »aid  some 


words  in  a  meeting ;  but  not  keeping  close  to  the 
divine  opening,  I  said  more  than  was  required  of 
me ;  and  being  soon  sensible  of  rny  error,  I  was 
afflicted  in  mind  some  weeks,  without  any  light 
or  comfort,  even  to  that  degree  that  I  could  not 
take  satisfaction  in  any  thing.  I  remembered  God, 
and  was  troubled  ;  and,  in  the  depth  of  my  distress, 
he  had  pity  upon  me,  and  sent  the  Comforter.  I 
then  felt  forgiveness  for  my  offence,  and  my  mind 
became  calm  and  quiet,  being  truly  thankful  to 
my  gracious  Redeemer  for  his  mercies ;  and  after 
this,,  feeling  the  spring  of  divine  love  opened,  and 
a  concern  to  speak,  I  said  a  few  words  in  a  meet 
ing,  in  which  I  found  peace.  This,  I  believe,  was 
about  six  weeks  from  the  first  time  :  and  as  1  was 
thus  humbled  and  disciplined  under  the  cross,  rny 
understanding  became  more  strengthened  to  distin 
guish  the  pure  spirit  which  inwardly  moves  upon 
the  heart,  and  taught  me  to  wait  in  silence  some 
times  many  weeks  together,  until  I  felt  that  rise 
which  prepares  the  creature  to  stand  like  a  trumpet 
through  which  the  Lord  speaks  to  his  flock. 

From  an  inward  purifying,  and  stedfast  abiding 
under  it,  springs  a  lively  operative  desire  for  the 
good  of  others.  All  the  faithful  are  not  called  to 
the  public  ministry ;  but  whoever  are,  are  called  to 
minister  of  that  which  they  have  tasted  and  han 
dled  spiritually.  The  outward  modes  of  worship 
are  various  ;  but  wherever  any  are  true  ministers 
of  Jesus  Christ,  it  is  from  the  operation  of  his  spirit 
upon  their  hearts,  first  purifying  them,  and  thus 
giving  them  a  just  sense  of  the  conditions  of  others. 


27 

This  truth  was  early  fixed  in  my  mind ;  and  I 
was  taught  to  watch  the  pure  opening,  and  to  take 
heed,  lest,  while  I  was  standing  to  speak,  my  own 
will  should  get  uppermost,  and  cause  me  to  utter 
words  from  worldly  wisdom,  and  depart  from  the 
channel  of  the  true  gospel  ministry.  In  the  ma 
nagement  of  my  outward  affairs,  I  may  say  with 
thankfulness,  I  found  truth  to  be  rny  support ;  and 
I  was  respected  in  my  master's  family,  who  came 
to  live  in  Mount  Holly  within  two  years  after  my 
going  there. 

About  the  twenty-third  year  of  my  age,  I  had 
many  fresh  and  heavenly  openings,  in  respect  to  the 
care  and  providence  of  the  Almighty  over  his  crea 
tures  in  general,  and  over  man  as  the  most  noble 
amongst  those  which  are  visible.  And  being  clear- 

o  o 

ly  convinced  in  my  judgment,  that  to  place  my 
whole  trust  in  God  was  best  for  me,  I  felt  renewed 
engagements,  that  in  all  things  I  might  act  on  an 
inward  principle  of  virtue,  and  pursue  worldly 
business  no  further,  than  as  truth  opened  my  way 
therein. 

About  the  time  called  Christmas,  I  observed 
many  people  from  the  country,  and  dwellers  in 
town,  who,  resorting  to  public-houses,  spent  their 
time  in  drinking  and  vain  sports,  tending  to  cor 
rupt  one  another  ;  on  which  account  I  was  much 
troubled.  At  one  house  in  particular  there  was 
much  disorder  ;  and  I  believed  it  was  a  duty  incum 
bent  on  me  to  go  and  speak  to  the  master  of  that 
house.  I  considered  1  was  young,  and  that  several 
elderly  friends  in  town  had  opportunity  to  see  these 


28 

things  ;  but  though  1  would  gladly  have  been  ex 
cused,  yet  I  could  not  feel  my  mind  clear. 

The  exercise  was  heavy  ;  and  as  I  was  reading 
what  the  Almighty  said  to  Ezekiel,  respecting  his 
duty  as  a  watchman,,  the  matter  was  set  home  more 
clearly  ;  and  then  with  prayers  and  tears,  I  besought 
the  Lord  for  his  assistance,  who  in  loving-kindness, 
gave  me  a  resigned  heart.  Then,  at  a  suitable  op 
portunity,  I  went  to  the  public-house  ;  and  seeing 
the  man  amongst  much  company,  I  went  to  him, 
and  told  him,  I  wanted  to  speak  with  him ;  so  we 
went  aside,  and  there,  in  the  fear  and  dread  of  the 
Almighty,  I  expressed  to  him  what  rested  on  my 
mind  ;  which  he  took  kindly,  and  afterward  shewed 
more  regard  to  me  than  before.  In  a  few  years 
afterwards,  he  died,  middle-aged ;  and  I  often 
thought,  that  had  I  neglected  my  duty  in  that  case, 
it  would  have  given  me  great  trouble  ;  and  I  was 
humbly  thankful  to  my  gracious  Father,  who  had 
supported  me  herein. 

My  employer  having  a  negro  woman,  sold  her, 
and  desired  me  to  write  a  bill  of  sale,  the  man  being 
waiting  who  bought  her.  The  thing  was  sudden  ; 
and  though  the  thoughts  of  writing  an  instrument 
of  slavery  for  one  of  my  fellow-creatures  felt  uneasy, 
yet  I  remembered  I  was  hired  by  the  year,  that  it 
was  my  master  who  directed  me  to  do  it,  and  that 
it  was  an  elderly  man,  a  member  of  our  society, 
who  bought  her;  so,  through  weakness,  I  gave 
way,  and  wrote  it ;  but,  at  the  executing  it,  I  was 
so  afflicted  in  my  mind,  that  I  said,  before  my  mas- 


29 

ter  and  the  friend,,  that  I  believed  slave- keeping  to 
be  a  practice  inconsistent  with  the  Christian  reli 
gion.  This,  in  some  degree,,  abated  my  uneasiness  ; 
yet  as  often  as  1  reflected  seriously  upon  it,  I 
thought  I  should  have  been  clearer,,  if  I  had  desired 
to  be  excused  from  it,  as  a  thing  against  my  con 
science  ;  for  such  it  was.  And  some  time  after  this, 
a  young  man,  of  our  society,  spoke  to  me  to  write 
a  conveyance  of  a  slave  to  him  ;  he  having  lately 
taken  a  negro  into  his  house.  I  told  him,  I  was  not 
easy  to  write  it ;  for,  though  many  of  our  meeting 
and  in  other  places  kept  slaves,  I  still  believed  the 
practice  was  not  right ;  and  desired  to  be  excused 
from  the  writing.  I  spoke  to  him  in  good  will  ; 
and  he  told  me,  that  keeping  slaves  was  not  alto 
gether  agreeable  to  his  mind  ;  but  that  the  slave 
being  a  gift  made  to  his  wife,  he  had  accepted  of 
her. 


CHAP.  II. 

His  first  journey,  on  a  religious  visit,  into  East 
Jersey,  in  company  with  Abraham  Farrington.— 
His  thoughts  on  merchandizing,  and  his  learning 
a  trade. — His  second  journey,  with  Isaac  Andrews 
into  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and 
North  Carolina. — His  third  journey  with  Peter 
Andrews,  through  part  of  the  West  and  East 
Jersey. — Some  account  of  his  sister  Elizabeth,  and 
her  death. — His  fourth  journey  with  Peter  An 
drews,  through  New  York  and  Long  Island,  to 
New  England. — And  his  Jifth  journey,  with  John 
Sykes,  to  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  the 
lower  Counties  on  Delaware. 


MY  esteemed  friend  Abraham  Farrington,  being 
about  to  make  a  visit  to  friends  on  the  eastern  side 
of  this  province,,  and  having  no  companion  he  pro 
posed  to  me  to  go  with  him ;  and  after  a  conference 
with  some  elderly  friends,  I  agreed  to  go.  So  we  set 
out  the  fifth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  in  the  year 
1743;  had  an  evening  meeting  at  a  tavern  in 
Brunswick,  a  town  in  which  none  of  our  society 
dwelt ;  the  room  was  full,  and  the  people  quiet. 
Thence  to  Amboy,  and  had  an  evening  meeting  in 
the  court-house ;  to  which  came  many  people, 
amongst  whom  were  several  members  of  assembly, 
they  being  in  town  on  the  public  affairs  of  the  pro 
vince.  In  both  these  meetings  my  ancient  com- 


31 

panion  was  enlarged  to  preach,,  in  the  love  of  the 
gospel.  Thence  we  went  to  Woodbridge,  Raway, 
and  Plainfield  ;  and  had  six  or  seven  meetings  in 
places  where  friends  meetings  are  not  usually  held., 
being  made  up  chiefly  of  Presbyterians,,  arid  rny 
beloved  companion  was  frequently  strengthened 
to  publish  the  word  of  life  amongst  them.  As  for 
me,,  I  was  often  silent  through  the  meetings ;  and 
when  I  spake,  it  was  with  much  care,  that  I  might 
speak  only  what  truth  opened;  my  mind  was  often 
tender,  and  I  learned  some  profitable  lessons.  We 
were  out  about  two  weeks. 

Near  this  time,,  being  on  some  outward  business 
in  which  several  families  were  concerned,  and 
which  was  attended  with  difficulties,  some  things 
relating  thereto  not  being  clearly  stated,  nor  rightly 
understood  by  all,  there  arose  some  heat  in  the 
minds  of  the  parties,  and  one  valuable  friend  got  off 
his  watch.  I  had  a  great  regard  for  him,  and  felt  a 
strong  inclination,  after  matters  were  settled,  to 
speak  to  him  concerning  his  conduct  in  that  case; 
but  I  being  a  youth,  and  he  far  advanced  in  age 
and  experience,  my  way  appeared  difficult ;  but 
after  some  days  deliberation,  and  inward  seeking  to 
the  Lord  for  assistance,  I  was  made  subject;  so  that 
I  exprest  what  lay  upon  me,  in  a  way  which  be 
came  my  youth  and  his  years ;  and  though  it  w  as  a 
hard  task  to  me,  it  was  well  taken,  and,  I  believe, 
was  useful  to  us  both. 

Having  now  been  several  years  with  my  em 
ployer,  and  he  doing  less  at  merchandize  than 
heretofore,  I  was  thoughtful  of  some  other  way  of 


32 

business ;  perceiving  merchandize  to  be  attended 
with  much  cumber  in  the  way  of  trading-  in  these 
parts. 

My  mind  through  the  power  of  truth,  was  in  a 
good  degree  weaned  from  the  desire  of  outward 
greatness,  and  I  was  learning  to  be  content  with 
real  conveniences,  that  were  not  costly  ;  so  that  a 
way  of  life,  free  from  much  entanglements,  appeared 
best  for  me,  though  the  income  might  be  small.  I 
had  several  offers  of  business  that  appeared  profit 
able,  but  did  not  see  my  way  clear  to  accept  of 
them ;  as  believing  the  business  proposed  would  be 
attended  with  more  outward  care  and  cumber  than 
was  required  of  me  to  engage  in. 

I  saw  that  an  humble  man,  with  the  blessing  of 
the  Lord,  might  live  on  a  little  ;  and  that  where 
the  heart  was  set  on  greatness,  success  in  business 
did  not  satisfy  the  craving  ;  but  that  commonly 
with  an  increase  of  wealth,  the  desire  of  wealth  in 
creased.  There  was  a  care  on  my  mind  so  to  pass 
my  time,  that  nothing  might  hinder  me  from  the 
most  steady  attention  to  the  voice  of  the  true  Shep 
herd. 

My  employer,  though  now  a  retailer  of  goods, 
was  by  trade  a  taylor,  and  kept  a  servant  man  at 
that  business;  and  I  began  to  think  about  learning 
the  trade,  expecting,  that  if  I  should  settle,  I  might, 
by  this  trade,  and  a  little  retailing  of  goods,  get  a 
living  in  a  plain  way,  without  the  load  of  great 
business.  1  mentioned  it  to  my  employer,  and  we 
soon  agreed  on  terms;  and  then  when  I  had  leisure 
from  the  affairs  of  merchandize,  I  worked  with  his 


33 

man.  I  believed  the  hand  of  Providence  pointed 
out  this  business  for  me  ;  and  was  taught  to  be  con 
tent  with  it,  though  I  felt  at  times,  a  disposition  that 
would  have  sought  for  something  greater;  but, 
through  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,,  I  had  seen 
the  happiness  of  humility,  and  there  was  an  earnest 
desire  in  me  to  enter  deep  into  it;  and  at  times 
this  desire  arose  to  a  degree  of  fervent  supplication, 
wherein  my  soul  was  so  environed  with  heavenly 
light  and  consolation,  that  things  were  made  easy 
to  me  which  had  been  otherwise. 

After  some  time,  my  employer's  wife  died  ;  she 
was  a  virtuous  woman,  and  generally  beloved  of 
her  neighbours :  and  soon  after  this,  he  left  shop - 
keeping;  and  we  parted.  I  then  wrought  at  my 
trade,  as  a  tailor ;  carefully  attended  meetings  for 
worship  and  discipline ;  and  found  an  enlargement 
of  gospel  love  in  my  mind,  and  therein  a  concern 
to  visit  friends  in  some  of  the  back  settlements  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia ;  and  being  thoughtful 
about  a  companion,  I  expressed  it  to  my  beloved 
friend  Isaac  Andrews,  who  then  told  me  that  he 
had  drawings  to  the  same  places ;  and  also  to  go 
through  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Carolina.  After 
considerable  time  past,  and  several  conferences 
with  him,  I  felt  easy  to  accompany  him  throughout; 
if  way  opened  for  it.  I  opened  the  case  in  our 
monthly-meeting,  and  friends  expressing  their 
unity  therewith,  we  obtained  certificates  to  travel 
as  companions ;  his  from  Haddonfield,  and  mine 
from  Burlington. 

We  left  our  province  on  the  twelfth  day  of  the 

c 


Si 

third  month,  in  the  year  1746,  and  had  several 
meetings  in  the  upper  part  of  Chester  county,  and 
near  Lancaster ;  in  some  of  which  the  love  of  Christ 
prevailed,  uniting  us  together  in  his  service.  Then 
we  crossed  the  river  Susquehannah,  and  had  several 
meetings  in  a  new  settlement,  called  the  Red 
Lands ;.  the  oldest  of  which,  as  I  was  informed,  did 
not  exceed  ten  years.  It  is  the  poorer  sort  of  people 
that  commonly  begin  to  improve  remote  deserts  : 
with  a  small  stock  they  have  houses  to  build,  lands 
to  clear  and  fence,  corn  to  raise,  clothes  to  pro 
vide,  and  children  to  educate ;  that  friends,  who 
visit  such,  may  well  sympathise  with  them  in  their 
hardships  in  the  wilderness ;  and  though  the  best 
entertainment  that  such  can  give,  may  seem  coarse 
to  some  who  are  used  to  cities,  or  old  settled 
places,  it  becomes  the  disciples  of  Christ  to  be 
content  with  it.  Our  hearts  were  sometimes  en 
larged  in  the  love  of  our  heavenly  Father  amongst 
these  people ;  and  the  sweet  influence  of  his  spirit 
supported  us  through  some  difficulties :  to  Him  be 
the  praise. 

We  passed  on  to  Manoquacy,  Fairfax,  Hopewell, 
and  Shanando,  and  had  meetings ;  some  of  which 
were  comfortable  and  edifying.  From  Shanando 
we  set  off  in  the  afternoon  for  the  old  settlements 
of  friends  in  Virginia ;  and  the  first  night  we,  with 
our  guide,  lodged  in  the  woods;  our  horses  feeding 
near  us;  but  he  being  poorly  provided  with  a  horse, 
and  we  young,  and  having  good  horses,  were  free 
the  next  day  to  part  with  him  ;  and  did  so.  In 
two  days  after,,  we  reached  our  friend  John 


35 

Cheagle's,  in  Virginia;  so  we  took  the  meetings  in 
our  way  through  Virginia ;  were  in  some  degree,, 
baptized  into  a  feeling  sense  of  the  conditions  of 
the  people ;  and  our  exercise  in  general  was  more 
painful  in  these  old  settlements,  than  it  had  been 
amongst  the  back  inhabitants :  but  through  the 
goodness  of  our  heavenly  Father,  the  well  of  living 
waters  was.,  at  times,,  opened  to  our  encouragement, 
and  the  refreshment  of  the  sincere-hearted.  We 
went  on  to  Perquimons,  in  North  Carolina ;  had 
several  meetings,  which  were  large ;  and  found 
some  openness  in  those  parts,,  and  a  hopeful  ap 
pearance  amongst  the  young  people.  So  we  turned 
again  to  Virginia,  and  attended  most  of  the  meet 
ings  which  we  had  not  been  at  before,  labouring 
amongst  friends  in  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,,  as 
ability  was  given :  and  thence  went  to  the  moun 
tains,  up  James's  river  to  a  new  settlement ;  and 
had  several  meetings  amongst  the  people,  some  of 
whom  had  lately  joined  in  membership  with  our 
society. 

In  our  journeying  to  and  fro,  we  found  some  ho 
nest-hearted  friends,  who  appeared  to  be  concerned 
for  the  cause  of  truth  among  a  backsliding  people. 

From  Virginia,  we  crossed  over  the  river  Pato- 
mac,  at  Hoe's  ferry,  and  made  a  general  visit  to 
the  meetings  of  friends  on  the  western  shore  of 
Maryland;  and  were  at  their  quarterly  meeting. 
We  had  some  hard  labour  amongst  them,  endea 
vouring  to  discharge  our  duty  honestly  as  way 
opened,  in  the  love  of  truth :  and  thence  taking 
sundry  meetings  in  our  way,  we  passed  homewards; 


36 

where,  through  the  favour  of  Divine  Providence,  we 
reached  the  sixteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  in 
the  year  1746;  and  I  may  say,  that  through  the 
assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  mortifies 
seltish  desires,  my  companion  and  I  travelled  in 
harmony,  and  parted  in  the  nearness  of  true  bro 
therly  love. 

Two  things  were  remarkable  to  me  in  this  jour 
ney:  First,  in  regard  to  my  entertainment ;  when  I 
ate,  drank,  and  lodged  free-cost  with  people,  who 
lived  in  ease  on  the  hard  labour  of  their  slaves,  I 
felt  uneasy ;  and  as  my  mind  was  inward  to  the 
Lord,  I  found,  from  place  to  place,  this  uneasiness 
return  upon  me,  at  times,  through  the  whole  visit. 
Where  the  masters  bore  a  good  share  of  the  bur 
then,  and  lived  frugally,  so  that  their  servants  were 
well  provided  for,  and  their  labour  moderate,  I  felt 
more  easy ;  but  where  they  lived  in  a  costly  way, 
and  laid  heavy  burthens  on  their  slaves,  my  exer 
cise  was  often  great,  and  I  frequently  had  conver 
sation  with  them,  in  private,  concerning  it.     Se 
condly :  this  trade  of  importing  slaves  from  their 
native   country  being  much  encouraged  amongst 
them,  and  the  white  people  arid  their  children  so 
generally   living  without   much   labour,   was   fre 
quently  the  subject  of  my  serious  thoughts.    And  I 
saw  in  these  southern  provinces  so  many  vices  and 
corruptions,  increased  by  this  trade  and  this  way  of 
life,  that  it  appeared  to  me  as  a  dark  gloominess 
hanging  over   the  land ;    and  though   now  many 
willingly  run  into  it,  yet  in  future  the  consequence 
will  be  grievous  to  posterity;  1  express  it  as  it  hath 


37 

appeared  to  mo,  not  at  once,  nor  twice,,  but  as  a 
matter  fixed  on  my  mind. 

Soon  after  my  return  home,  I  felt  an  increas 
ing  concern  for  friends  on  our  sea-coast ;  and  on 
the  eighth  day  of  the  eighth  month,  in  the  year 
1746,  with  the  unity  of  friends,  and  in  company 
with  my  beloved  friend  and  neighbour  Peter  An 
drews,  brother  to  my  companion  before-mentioned, 
\ve  set  forward  and  visited  meetings  generally  about 
Salem,  Cape  May,  Great  and  Little  Egg  Harbour ; 
and  had  meetings  at  Barnagat,  Manahockin,  and 
Mane  Squan,  and  so  to  the  yearly  meeting  at 
Shrewsbury.  Through  the  goodness  of  the  Lord 
way  was  opened,  and  the  strength  of  divine  love 
was  sometimes  felt  in  our  assemblies,  to  the  com 
fort  and  help  of  those  who  were  rightly  concerned 
before  Him.  We  were  out  twenty-two  days,  and 
rode,  by  computation,  three  hundred  and  forty 
miles.  At  Shrewsbury  yearly  meeting,  we  met 
with  our  dear  friends  Michael  Lightfoot  and  Abra 
ham  Farrington,  who  had  good  service  there. 

The  winter  following  died  my  eldest  sister, 
Elizabeth  Wool  man,  jun.  of  the  srnall-pox,  aged 
thirty-one  years.  She  was,  from  her  youth,  of  a 
thoughtful  disposition ;  and  very  compassionate  to 
her  acquaintance  in  their  sickness  or  distress,  being 
ready  to  help  as  far  as  she  could.  She  was  dutiful 
to  her  parents ;  one  instance  whereof  follows  :— r 
It  happened  that  she,  and  two  of  her  sisters,  being 
then  near  the  estate  of  young  women,  had  an  in 
clination  one  first-day  after  meeting  to  go  on  a  visit 
to  some  other  young  women  at  some  distance  off, 


38 

whose  company,  I  believe,  would  have  done  them 
no  good .  They  expressed  their  desire  to  our  parents, 
who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  proposal,  and  stopped 
them.  The  same  day,  as  my  sisters  and  I  were 
together,  and  they  talking  about  their  disappoint 
ment,  Elizabeth  expressed  her  contentment  under 
it,  signifying  she  believed  it  might  be  for  their 
good. 

A  few  years  after  she  attained  to  mature  age, 
through  the  gracious  visitations  of  God's  love,  she 
was  strengthened  to  live  a  self-denying  exemplary 
life,  giving  herself  much  to  reading  and  meditation. 

The  following  letter  may  show,  in  some  degree, 
her  disposition  : 

Haddonfidd,  Ist-day,  llth  month^  1743. 

Beloved  brother  John  Woolman, 

In  that  love  which  desires  the  welfare  of  all  men, 
I  write  unto  thee.  I  received  thine,  dated  second- 
day  of  the  tenth  month  last,  with  which  I  was  com 
forted.  My  spirit  is  bowed  with  thankfulness  that 
I  should  be  remembered,  who  am  unworthy ;  but 
the  Lord  is  full  of  mercy,  and  his  goodness  is  ex 
tended  to  the  meanest  of  his  creation ;  therefore, 
in  his  infinite  love,  he  hath  pitied  and  spared  and 
showed  mercy,  that  I  have  not  been  cut  off  nor 
quite  lost;  but,  at  times,  I  am  refreshed  and  com 
forted  as  with  the  glimpse  of  his  presence,  which 
is  more  to  the  immortal  part,  than  all  which  this 
world  can  afford :  so,  with  desires  for  thy  preser 
vation  with  my  own,  I  remain 

thy  affectionate  sister, 

ELIZ.  WOOLMAN,  jun. 


39 

The  fore  part  of  her  illness  she  was  in  great  sad 
ness  and  dejection  of  mind,  of  which  she  told  one 
of  her  intimate  friends,,  and  said,,  when  1  was  a 
young  girl  I  was  wanton  and  airy,,  but  I  thought  I 
had  thoroughly  repented  for  it ;  and  added,,  I  have 
of  late  had  great  satisfaction  in  meetings.  Though 
she  was  thus  disconsolate,,  still  she  retained  a  hope,, 
which  was  as  an  anchor  to  her :  and  some  time  after, 
the  same  friend  came  again  to  see  her,  to  whom  she 
mentioned  her  former  expressions,,  and  said,  "  It  is 
otherwise  now,  for  the  Lord  hath  rewarded  me 
seven-fold ;  and  I  am  unable  to  express  the  great 
ness  of  his  love  manifested  to  me/'  Her  disorder 
appearing  dangerous,  and  our  mother  being  sor 
rowful,  she  took  notice  of  it,  and  said,  ' '  Dear  mo 
ther,  weep  not  for  me  ;  I  go  to  my  God  :"  and  many 
times,  with  an  audible  voice,  uttered  praise  to  her 
Redeemer. 

A  friend  coming  some  miles  to  see  her  the  morn*- 
ing  before  she  died,  asked  her  how  s^ie  did  ?  she 
answered  "  I  have  had  a  hard  night,  but  shall  not 
have  another  such,  for  I  shall  die,  and  it  will  be 
well  with  my  soul  ;)a  and  accordingly  died  the  next 
evening. 

The  following  ejaculations  were  found  amongst 
her  writings ;  written,  I  believe,  at  four  times. 

1.  Oh!  that  my  head  were  as  waters,  and  mine 
eyes  as  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I  might  weep  day 
and  night,  until  acquainted  with  my  God. 

2.  O  Lord,  that  I  may  enjoy  thy  presence ;  or 
else  my  time  is  lost,  and  my  life  a  snare  to  my 
soul 


40 

3.  O  Lord,  that  I   may  receive  bread  from  thy 
table,  and  that  thy  grace  may  abound  in  me. 

4.  O  Lord,  that  I  may  be  acquainted  with  thy 
presence,  that  I  may  be  seasoned  with  thy  salt,  that 
thy  grace  may  abound  in  me. 

Of  late  I  found  drawings  in  my  mind  to  visit 
friends  in  New  England,  and  having  an  opportunity 
of  joining  in  company  with  my  beloved  friend  Peter 
Andrews;  we,  having  obtained  certificates  from  our 
monthly  meeting,  set  forward  on  the  sixteenth  day 
of  the  third  month,  in  the  year  1747,  and  reached 
the  yearly  meeting  at  Long  Island  ;  at  which  were 
our  friends  Samuel  Nottingham  from  England, 
John  Griffith,  Jane  Hoskins,  and  Elizabeth  Hudson 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  Jacob  Andrews  from  Ches 
terfield.  Several  of  whom  were  favoured  in  their 
public  exercise  ;  and,  through  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord,  we  had  some  edifying  meetings.  After  this, 
my  companion  and  I  visited  friends  on  Long- 
Island  ;  and,  through  the  mercies  of  God,  we  were 
helped  in  the  work. 

Besides  going  to  the  settled  meetings  of  friends, 
\ve  were  at  a  general  meeting  at  Setawket,  chiefly 
made  up  of  other  societies  :  and  had  a  meeting  at 
Oyster  Bay,  in  a  dwelling-house,  at  which  were 
many  people ;  at  the  first  of  which  there  was  not 
much  said  by  way  of  testimony,  but  it  was,  I  believe, 
a  good  meeting  :  at  the  latter,  through  the  spring 
ing  up  of  living  waters,  it  was  a  day  to  be  thank 
fully  remembered.  Having  visited  the  island,  we 
went  over  to  the  main,  taking  meetings  in  our  way, 
to  Oblong,  Nine-partners,  and  New  Milford.  In 


41 

these  back  settlements  we  met  with  several  people, 
who,,  through  the  immediate  workings  of  the  spirit 
of  Christ  on  their  minds,  were  drawn  from  the 
vanities  of  the  world,  to  an  inward  acquaintance 
with  him :  they  were  educated  in  the  way  of  the 
Presbyterians.  A  considerable  number  of  the 
youth,  members  of  that  society,  were  used  to  spend 
their  time  often  together  in  merriment,  but  some  of 
the  principal  young  men  of  that  company  being 
visited  by  the  powerful  workings  of  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  and  thereby  led  humbly  to  take  up  his  cross, 
could  no  longer  join  in  those  vanities;  and  as  these 
stood  stedfast  to  that  inward  convin cement,  they 
were  made  a  blessing  to  some  of  their  former  com 
panions  ;  so  that,  through  the  power  of  truth,  se 
veral  were  brought  into  a  close  exercise  concern 
ing  the  eternal  well-being  of  their  souls.  These 
young  people  continued  for  a  time  to  frequent  their 
public  worship ;  and  besides  that,  had  meetings  of 
their  own ;  which  meetings  were  a  while  allowed  by 
their  preacher,  who  sometimes  met  with  them :  but, 
in  time,  their  judgment  in  matters  of  religion  dis 
agreeing  with  some  of  the  articles  of  the  Presby 
terians,  their  meetings  were  disapproved  by  that 
society ;  and  such  of  them  who  stood  firm  to  their 
duty,  as  it  was  inwardly  manifested,  had  many 
difficulties  to  go  through  :  and  their  meetings  were 
in  a  while  dropped  ;  some  of  them  returning  to  the 
Presbyterians,  and  others  of  them,  after  a  time, 
joined  to  our  religious  society. 

I  had  conversation  with  some  of  the  latter,  to  my 
help  and  edification;  and  believe  several  of  them 


42 

are  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  that  worship, 
which  is  performed  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  From 
hence  accompanied  by  Amos  Powel,  a  friend  from 
Long  Island,  we  rode  through  Connecticut,,  chiefly 
inhabited  by  Presbyterians ;  who  were  generally 
civil  to  us,  so  far  as  I  saw :  and  after  three  days 
riding,  we  came  amongst  friends  in  the  colony  of 
Rhode  Island.  We  visited  friends  in  and  about 
Newport  and  Dartmouth,  and  generally  in  those 
parts ;  and  then  to  Boston ;  and  proceeded  east 
ward  as  far  as  Dover ;  and  then  returned  to  New 
port,  and  not  far  from  thence,  we  met  our  friend 
Thomas  Gawthorp  from  England ;  who  was  then 
on  a  visit  to  these  provinces.  From  Newport  we 
sailed  to  Nantucket ;  were  there  near  a  week ;  and 
from  thence  came  over  to  Dartmouth  :  and  having 
finished  our  visit  in  these  parts,  we  crossed  the 
Sound  from  New  London  to  Long  Island  ;  and 
taking  some  meetings  on  the  island,  proceeded 
homeward ;  where  we  reached  the  thirteenth  day 
of  the  seventh  month,  in  the  year  1747,  having  rode 
about  fifteen  hundred  miles,  and  sailed  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty. 

In  this  journey,  I  may  say  in  general,  we  were 
sometimes  in  much  weakness,  and  laboured  under 
discouragements ;  and  at  other  times,  through  the 
renewed  manifestations  of  divine  love,  we  had  sea 
sons  of  refreshment,  wherein  the  power  of  truth 
prevailed. 

We  were  taught,  by  renewed  experience,  to 
labour  for  an  inward  stillness :  at  no  time  to  seek 
for  \yords,  but  to  live  in  the  spirit  of  truth,  and  utter 


43 

that  to  the  people  which  truth  opened  in  us.  My 
beloved  companion  and  I  belonged  both  to  one 
meeting,  came  forth  in  the  ministry  near  the  same 
time,  and  were  inwardly  united  in  the  work.  He 
was  about  thirteen  years  older  than  I,,  bore  the 
heaviest  burthen,  and  was  an  instrument  of  the 
greatest  use. 

Finding  a  concern  to  visit  friends  in  the  lower 
counties  of  Delaware,  and  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland,  and  having  an  opportunity  to  join  with 
my  well-beloved  ancient  friend  John  Sykes,  we  ob 
tained  certificates,  and  set  off  the  seventh  day  of  the 
eighth  month,  in  the  year  1748,  were  at  the  meet 
ings  of  friends  in  the  lower  counties,  attended  the 
yearly  meeting  at  Little  Creek,  and  made  a  visit  to 
most  of  the  meetings  on  the  eastern  shore  ;  and  so 
home  by  the  way  of  Nottingham :  were  abroad 
about  six  weeks ;  and  rode,  by  computation,  about 
five  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

Our  exercise  at  times  was  heavy ;  but  through 
the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  we  were  often  refreshed  : 
and  1  may  say,  by  experience,  "  He  is  a  strong 
hold  in  the  day  of  trouble."  Though  our  society, 
in  these  parts,  appeared  to  me  to  be  in  a  declining 
condition;  yet,  I  believe,  the  Lord  hath  a  people 
amongst  them,  who  labour  to  serve  him  uprightly, 
but  have  many  difficulties  to  encounter. 


44 


CHAP.  III. 

His  marriage. —  The  death  of  his  father. — His  jour- 
nies  into  the  upper  part  of  New  Jersey,  and  after 
wards    into    Pennsylvania. — Considerations    on 
keeping  slaves,  and  his  visits  to  the  families  of 
friends  at  several  times  and  places. — An  epistle 
from  the  general  meeting. — His  journey  to  Long 
Island. — Considerations  on  trading  and  on  the  use 
of  spirituous  liquors  and  costly  apparel. — And  his 
letter  to  a  friend. 

ABOUT  this  time  believing  it  good  for  me  to  set 
tle,,  and  thinking  seriously  about  a  companion,  my 
heart  was  turned  to  the  Lord  with  desires  that  he 
would  give  me  wisdom  to  proceed  therein  agree 
able  to  his  will ;  and  he  was  pleased  to  give  me  a 
well-inclined  damsel,  Sarah  Ellis ;  to  whom  I  was 
married  the  eighteenth  day  of  the  eighth  month,  in 
the  year  1749. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1750  died  my  father, 
Samuel  Wool  man,  with  a  fever,  aged  about  sixty 
years. 

In  his  life-time  he  manifested  much  care  for  us 
his  children,  that  in  our  youth  we  might  learn  to 
fear  the  Lord ;  often  endeavouring  to  imprint  in 
our  minds  the  true  principles  of  virtue,  and  parti 
cularly  to  cherish  in  us  a  spirit  of  tenderness,  not 
only  towards  poor  people,  but  also  towards  all 
creatures  of  which  we  had  the  command. 


45 

After  my  return  from  Carolina  in  the  year  1746, 
I  made  some  observations  on  keeping  slaves,  which 
sometime  before  his  decease  I  showed  him  ;  and 
he  perused  the  manuscript,,  proposed  a  few  al 
terations,,  and  appeared  well  satisfied  that  I  found  a 
concern  on  that  account.  In  his  last  sickness, 
as  I  was  watching  with  him  one  night,  he  being  so 
far  spent  that  there  was  no  expectation  of  his  reco 
very,  but  had  the  perfect  use  of  his  understanding, 
he  asked  me  concerning  the  manuscript,,  whether  I 
expected  soon  to  proceed  to  take  the  advice  of 
friends  in  publishing  it  ?  and,  after  some  conversa 
tion  thereon,  said,  I  have  all  along  been  deeply 
affected  with  the  oppression  of  the  poor  negroes  ; 
and  now,  at  last,  my  concern  for  them  is  as  great  as 
ever. 

By  his  direction  I  had  written  his  will  in  a  time  of 
health,  and  that  night  he  desired  rne  to  read  it  to 
him,  which  I  did  ;  and  he  said  it  was  agreeable  to 
his  mind.  He  then  made  mention  of  his  end, 
which  he  believed  was  now  near ;  and  signified, 
that  though  he  was  sensible  of  many  imperfections 
in  the  course  of  his  life,  yet  his  experience  of  the 
power  of  truth,  and  of  the  love  and  goodness  of 
God  from  time  to  time,  even  till  now,  was  such, 
that  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  in  leaving  this  life 
he  should  enter  into  one  more  happy. 

The  next  day,  his  sister  Elizabeth  carne  to  see 
him,  and  told  him  of  the  decease  of  their  sister  Anne, 
who  died  a  few  days  before  ;  he  then  said,  I  reckon 
sister  Anne  was  free  to  leave  this  world  ?  Elizabeth 
said  she  was.  He  then  said,  I  also  am  free  to  leave 


46 

it :  and  being  in  great  weakness  of  body  said,  I 
hope  I  shall  shortly  go  to  rest.  He  continued  in  a 
weighty  frame  of  mind,  and  was  sensible  till  near 
the  last. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  ninth  month,  in  the 
year  1751,  feeling  drawings  in  my  mind  to  visit 
friends  at  the  Great  Meadows,  in  the  upper  part  of 
West  Jersey,  with  the  unity  of  our  monthly  meet 
ing,  I  went  there,  and  had  some  searching  laborious 
exercise  amongst  friends  in  those  parts,  and  found 
inward  peace  therein. 

In  the  ninth  month  of  the  year  1753,  in  company 
with  my  well-esteemed  friend  JohnSykes,  and  with 
the  unity  of  friends,  we  travelled  about  two  weeks, 
visiting  friends  in  Buck's  County.  We  laboured  in 
the  love  of  the  gospel,  according  to  the  measure 
received ;  and,  through  the  mercies  of  Him,  who  is 
strength  to  the  poor  who  trust  in  Him,  we  found 
satisfaction  in  our  visit.  In  the  next  winter, 
way  opening  to  visit  friends'  families  within  the 
compass  of  our  monthly-meeting,  partly  by  the 
labours  of  two  friends  from  Pennsylvania,  I  joined 
in  some  part  of  the  work,  having  had  a  desire  some 
time  that  it  might  go  forward  amongst  us. 

About  this  time,  a  person  at  some  distance  lying 
sick,  his  brother  came  to  me  to  write  his  will.  I 
knew  he  had  slaves  ;  and,  asking  his  brother,  was 
told  he  intended  to  leave  them  as  slaves  to  his 
children.  As  writing  is  a  profitable  employ,  and  as 
offending  sober  people  was  disagreeable  to  my  in 
clination,  I  was  straitened  in  my  mind ;  but  as  I 
looked  to  the  Lord,  he  inclined  my  heart  to  his 


47 

testimony;  and  I  told  the  man,  that  I  believed  the 
practice  of  continuing  slavery  to  this  people  was 
not  right,  and  had  a  scruple  in  my  mind  against 
doing  writings  of  that  kind  ;  that  though  many  in 
our  society  kept  them  as  slaves,  still  I  was  not  easy 
to  be  concerned  in  it,  and  desired  to  be  excused 
from  going  to  write  the  will.  I  spake  to  him  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  ;  and  he  made  no  reply  to  what  I 
said,  but  went  away  :  he,  also,  had  some  concerns 
in  the  practice ;  and  I  thought  he  was  displeased 
with  me.  In  this  case  I  had  fresh  confirmation, 
that  acting  contrary  to  present  outward  interest, 
from  a  motive  of  divine  love,  and  in  regard  to 
truth  and  righteousness,  and  thereby  incurring  the 
resentments  of  people,  opens  the  way  to  a  treasure 
better  than  silver,  and  to  a  friendship  exceeding 
the  friendship  of  men. 

The  manuscript  before-mentioned  having  laid 
by  me  several  years,  the  publication  of  it  rested 
weightily  upon  me  ;  and  this  year  I  offered  it  to  the 
revisal  of  friends,  who,  having  examined  and  made 
some  small  alterations  in  it,  directed  a  number 
of  copies  thereof  to  be  published  and  dispersed 
amongst  friends. 

In  the  year  1754,  I  found  my  mind  drawn  to 
join  in  a  visit  to  friends'  families  belonging  to  Ches 
terfield  monthly  meeting  ;  and  having  the  approba 
tion  of  our  own,  I  went  to  their  monthly-meeting 
in  order  to  confer  with  friends,  and  see  if  way 
opened  for  it.  I  had  conference  with  some  of 
their  members,  the  proposal  having  been  opened 
before  in  their  meeting,  and  one  friend  agreed  to 


48 

join  with  me  as  a  companion  for  a  beginning  ;  bat 
when  meeting  was  ended,  I  felt  great  distress  of 
mind,  and  doubted  what  way  to  take,  or  whether 
to  go  home  and  wait  for  greater  clearness,  I  kept 
my  distress  secret ;  and  going  with  a  friend  to  his 
house,  my  desires  were  to  the  great  Shepherd  for 
his  heavenly  instruction  ;  and  in  the  morning  I  felt 
easy  to  proceed  on  the  visit,  being  very  low  in  my 
mind.  As  mine  eye  was  turned  to  the  Lord, 
waiting  in  families  in  deep  reverence  before  Him, 
He  was  pleased  graciously  to  afford  help  ;  so  that 
we  had  many  comfortable  opportunities,  and  it  ap 
peared  as  a  fresh  visitation  to  some  young  people. 
I  spent  several  weeks  this  winter  in  the  service  ; 
part  of  which  time  was  employed  near  home.  And 
again  in  the  following  winter  I  was  several  weeks 
in  the  same  service ;  some  part  of  the  time  at 
Shrewsbury,  in  company  with  my  beloved  friend 
John  Sykes :  arid  have  cause  humbly  to  acknow 
ledge,  that  through  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  our 
hearts  were,  at  times.,  enlarged  in  his  love;  and 
strength  was  given  to  go  through  the  trials  which, 
in  the  course  of  our  visit,  attended  us. 

From  a  disagreement  between  the  powers  of 
England  and  Prance,  it  was  now  a  time  of  trouble 
on  this  continent;  and  an  epistle  to  friends  went 
forth  from  our  general  spring  meeting,  which  I 
thought  good  to  give  a  place  in  this  journal. 


49 


An  EPISTLE  from  our  general  spring  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders  for  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey,  held  at  Philadelphia,  from  the  twenty- 
ninth  of  the  third  month,  to  the  first  of  the  fourth 
month,  inclusive,  1755. 

To  Friends  on  the  Continent  of  America. 

Dear  Friends, 

IN  an  humble  sense  of  divine  goodness,  and  the 
gracious  continuation  of  God's  love  to  his  people, 
we  tenderly  salute  you  ;  and  are  at  this  lime  there 
in  engaged  in  mind,  that  all  of  us  who  profess  the 
truth,  as  held  forth  and  published  by  our  worthy 
predecessors  in  this  latter  age  of  the  world,  may 
keep  near  to  that  life  which  is  the  light  of  men,  and 
be  strengthened  to  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our 
faith  without  wavering,  that  our  trust  may  not  be 
in  man,  but  in  the  Lord  alone,  who  ruleth  in  the 
army  of  heaven,  and  in  the  kingdoms  of  men, 
before  whom  the  earth  is  (<  as  the  dust  of  the 
balance,  and  her  inhabitants  as  grasshoppers." 
Isa.  xl.  22. 

We,  being  convinced  that  the  gracious  design  of 
the  Almighty  in  sending  his  Son  into  the  world, 
was  to  repair  the  breach  made  by  disobedience,  to 
finish  sin  and  transgression,  that  his  kingdom  might 
come,  and  his  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  hea 
ven,  have  found  it  to  be  our  duty  to  cease  from 
those  national  contests  productive  of  misery  and 
bloodshed,  and  submit  our  cause  to  Him,  the  Most 


50 

r 

High,,  whose  tender  love  to  his  children  exceeds 
"the  most  warm  affections  of  natural  parents,  and 
who  hath  promised  to  his  seed  throughout  the 
earth,  as  to  one  individual,  (C  I  will  never  leave 
thee,  nor  forsake  thee."  Heb.  xiii.  5.  And  we, 
through  the  gracious  dealings  of  the  Lord  our  God, 
have  had  experience  of  that  work  which  is  carried 
on,  ff  not  by  earthly  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts:"  Zech.  iv.  6. 
By  which  operation,  that  spiritual  kingdom  is  set 
up,  which  is  to  subdue  and  break  in  pieces  all  king 
doms  that  oppose  it,  and  shall  stand  for  ever.  In  a 
deep  sense  thereof,  and  of  the  safely,  stability,  and 
peace  there  is  in  it,  we  are  desirous  that  all  who 
profess  the  truth,  may  be  inwardly  acquainted  with 
it,  and  thereby  be  qualified  to  conduct  in  all  parts  of 
our  life  as  becomes  our  peaceable  profession :  and 
we  trust,  as  there  is  a  faithful  continuance  to  depend 
wholly  upon  the  almighty  arm,  from  one  generation 
to  another,  the  peaceable  kingdom  will  gradually 
be  extended  "  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth/'  Zech.  ix.  10.  to  the  com 
pletion  of  those  prophecies  already  begun,  that 
ff  nation  shall  not  lift  up  a  sword  against  nation, 
nor  learn  war  any  more."  Isa.  ii.  4.  Micah.  iv.  3. 
And,  dearly  beloved  friends,  seeing  we  have  these 
promises,  and  believe  that  God  is  beginning  to  ful 
fil  them,  let  us  constantly  endeavour  to  have  our 
minds  sufficiently  disentangled  from  the  surfeiting 
cares  of  this  life,  and  redeemed  from  the  love  of  the 
world,  that  no  earthly  possessions  nor  enjoyments 
may  bias  our  judgments,  or  turn  us  from  that  resig- 


51 

nation  and  entire  trust  in  God,  to  which  his  blessing 
is  most  surely  annexed ;  then  may  we  say,  sf  Our 
redeemer  is  mighty,  he  will  plead  our  cause  for  us." 
Jer.  1.  34.  And  if,  for  the  further  promoting  his 
most  gracious  purposes  in  the  earth,  he  should  give 
us  to  taste  of  that  bitter  cup  which  his  faithful  ones 
have  often  partaken  of;  O  that  we  may  be  rightly 
prepared  to  receive  it ! 

And  now,  dear  friends,  with  respect  to  the  com 
motions  and  stirrings  of  the  powers  of  the  earth  at, 
this  time  near  us,  we  are  desirous  that  none  of  us 
may  be  moved  thereat ;  but  repose  ourselves  in 
the  munition  of  that  rock  that  all  these  shakings 
shall  not  move,  even  in  the  knowledge  and  feeling 
of  the  eternal  power  of  God,  keeping  us  subjectly 
given  up  to  his  heavenly  will,  and  feel  it  daily  to 
mortify  that  which  remains  in  any  of  us  which  is  of 
this  world ;  for  the  worldly  part  in  any,  is  the 
changeable  part,  and  that  is  up  and  down,  full  and 
empty,  joyful  and  sorrowful,  as  things  go  well  or  ill 
in  this  world.  For  as  the  truth  is  but  one,  and  many 
are  made  partakers  of  its  spirit,  so  the  world  is  but 
one,  and  many  are  made  partakers  of  the  spirit  of 
it ;  and  so  many  as  do  partake  of  it,  so  many  will 
be  straightened  and  perplexed  with  it.  But  they 
who  are  single  to  the  truth,  waiting  daily  to  feel  the 
life  and  virtue  of  it  in  their  hearts,  these  shall  re 
joice  in  the  midst  of  adversity,  and  have  to  ex 
perience  with  the  prophet,  that.  Although  the  fig- 
tree  shall  riot  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the 
vines ;  the  labour  of  the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the 
fields  shall  yield  no  meat ;  the  flock  shall  be  cut 


52 

off  from  the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the 
stalls;  yet  will  they  rejoice  in  the  Lord.,  and  joy  in 
the  God  of  their  salvation.  Hab.  iii.  17,  18. 

If,  contrary  to  this,  we  profess  the  truth.,  and  not 
living  under  the  power  and  influence  of  it,  are  pro 
ducing  fruits  disagreeable  to  the  purity  thereof,  and 
trust  to  the  strength  of  man  to  support  ourselves, 
therein  our  confidence  will  be  vain.  For  he  who 
removed  the  hedge  from  his  vineyard,  and  gave  it 
to  be  trodden  under  foot,  by  reason  of  the  wild 
grapes  it  produced,  (Isa.  v.  6.)  remains  unchange 
able  :  and  if,  for  the  chastisement  of  wickedness,  and 
the  further  promoting  his  own  glory,  he  doth  arise, 
even  to  shake  terribly  the  earth,  who  then  may  op 
pose  him,  and  prosper ! 

We  remain,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  your  friends 
and  brethren. 

Signed  by  fourteen  friends. 

Scrupling  to  do  writings  relative  to  keeping 
slaves,  having  been  a  means  of  sundry  small  trials 
to  me,  in  which  I  have  so  evidently  felt  my  own 
will  set  aside,  I  think  it  good  to  mention  a  few  of 
them.  Tradesmen  and  retailers  of  goods,  who 
depend  on  their  business  for  a  living,  are  naturally 
inclined  to  keep  the  good-will  of  their  customers  ; 
nor  is  it  a  pleasant  thing  for  young  men  to  be  under 
any  necessity  to  question  the  judgment  or  honesty 
of  elderly  men,  and  more  especially  of  such  who 
have  a  fair  reputation.  Deep-rooted  customs, 
though  wrong,  are  not  easily  altered ;  but  it  is 
the  duty  of  all  to  be  firm  in  that  which  they 


53 

certainly  know  is  right  for  them.  A  charitable,, 
benevolent  man,  well  acquainted  with  a  negro,  may, 
1  believe,  under  some  circumstances,  keep  him  in 
his  family  as  a  servant,  on  no  other  motives  than 
the  negro's  good  ;  but  man,  as  man,  knows  not 
what  shall  be  after  him,  nor  hath  he  any  assurance 
that  his  children  will  attain  to  that  perfection  in 
wisdom  and  goodness,  necessary  rightly  to  exercise 
such  power :  hence  it  is  clear  to  me,  that  I  ought 
not  to  be  the  scribe  where  wills  are  drawn,  in  which 
some  children  are  made  absolute  masters  over  others 
during  life. 

About  this  time,  an  ancient  man  of  good  esteem 
in  the  neighbourhood,  came  to  my  house  to  get  his 
will  written  ;  he  had  young  negroes ;  and  1  asked 
him  privately  how  he  purposed  to  dispose  of  them. 
He  told  me :  1  then  said,  I  cannot  write  thy  will 
without  breaking  my  own  peace ;  and  respectfully 
gave  him  rny  reasons  for  it.  He  signitied  that  he  had 
a  choice  that  1  should  have  written  it;  but  as  1  could 
not,  consistently  with  my  conscience,  he  did  not  de 
sire  it;  and  so  he  got  it  written  by  some  other  person. 
And  a  few  years  after,  there  being  great  alterations 
in  his  family,  he  came  again  to  get  me  to  write  his 
will.  His  negroes  were  yet  young  ;  and  his  son.  to 
whom  he  intended  to  give  them,  was,  since  he  first 
spoke  to  me,  from  a  libertine,  become  a  sober  young 
man  ;  and  he  supposed,  that  I  would  have  been 
free,  on  that  account,  to  write  it.  We  had  much 
friendly  talk  on  the  subject,  and  then  deferred  it : 
and  a  few  days  after,  he  came  again,  and  directed 
their  freedom ;  and  so  I  wrote  his  will. 


54 

Near  the  time  the  last  mentioned  friend  first  spoke 
to  me,  a  neighbour  received  a  bad  bruise  in  his 
body,  and  sent  for  me  to  bleed  him ;  which  being 
done,  he  desired  me  to  write  his  will.   1  took  notes; 
and  amongst  other  things,  he  told  me  to  which  of 
his  children  he  gave  his  young  negro.    I  considered 
the  pain  and  distress  he  was  in,  and  knew  not  how 
it  would  end  ;  so  I  wrote  his  will,  save  only  that 
part  concerning  his  slave,  and  carrying  it  to  his 
bed-side,  read  it  to  him  :  and  then  told  him  in  a 
friendly  way,  that  I  could  not  write  any  instruments 
by  which  my  fellow-creatures  were   made  slaves, 
without  bringing  trouble  on  my  own  mind.    I  let 
him  know  that  I  charged  nothing  for  what  I  had 
done,  and  desired  to  be  excused  from  doing  the 
other  part  in  the  way  he  proposed.   We  then  had  a 
serious  conference  on  the  subject;   at  length,  he 
agreeing  to  set  her  free,  I  finished  his  will. 

Having  found  drawings  in  my  mind  to  visit  friends 
on  Long  Island,  after  obtaining  a  certificate  from 
our  monthly-meeting,  I  set  off  on  the  twelfth-day 
of  the  fifth  month,  in  the  year  1756.  When  I 
reached  the  island,  I  lodged  the  first  night  at  the 
house  of  my  dear  friend  Richard  Mallet.  The 
next  day,  being  the  first  of  the  week,  I  was  at  the 
meeting  in  New  Town  ;  in  which  we  experienced 
the  renewed  manifestations  of  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ,  to  the  comfort  of  the  honest-hearted.  I  went 
that  night  to  Flushing;  and  the  next  day,  in  com 
pany  with  my  beloved  friend  Matthew  Franklin,  we 
crossed  the  ferry  at  White  Stone ;  were  at  three 
meetings  on  the  main,  and  then  returned  to  the 


55 

sland  ;  where  I  spent  the  remainder  of  the  Week  in 
visiting  meetings.  The  Lord,  I  believe,,  hath  a 
people  in  those  parts.,  who  are  honestly  inclined  to 
serve  him  ;  but  many,  I  fear,  are  too  much  clogged 
with  the  things  of  this  life,  and  do  not  come  for 
ward  bearing  the  cross  in  such  faithfulness  as  He 
calls  for. 

My  mind  was  deeply  engaged  in  this  visit,  both 
in  public  and  private ;  and,  at  several  places  where 
I  was,  on  observing  that  they  had  slaves,  I  found 
myself  under  a  necessity,  in  a  friendly  way,  to 
labour  with  them  on  that  subject ;  expressing,  as 
way  opened,  the  inconsistency  of  that  practice  with 
the  purity  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  the  ill  effects 
of  it  manifested  amongst  us. 

The  latter  end  of  the  week,  their  yearly  meeting 
began;  at  which  were  our  friends  John  Scarbo 
rough,  Jane  Hoskins,  and  Susannah  Brown,  from 
Pennsylvania.  The  public  meetings  were  large,  and 
measurably  favoured  with  divine  goodness. 

The  exercise  of  my  mind,  at  this  meeting,  was 
chiefly  on  account  of  those  who  were  considered  as 
the  foremost  rank  in  the  society  :  and  in  a  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  way  opened,  that  I  ex 
pressed  in  some  measure  what  lay  upon  me ;  and  at 
a  time  when  friends  were  met  for  transacting  the 
affairs  of  the  church,  having  sat  a  while  silent,  I 
felt  a  weight  on  my  mind,  and  stood  up ;  and, 
through  the  gracious  regard  of  our  heavenly  Fa 
ther,  strength  was  given  fully  to  clear  myself  of  a 
burden,  which  for  some  days  had  been  increasing 
upon  me. 


56 

Through  the  humbling  dispensations  of  Divine 
Providence,  men  are  sometimes  fitted  for  his  ser 
vice.  The  messages  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah  were 
so  disagreeable  to  the  people,  and  so  reverse  to  the 
spirit  they  lived  in,  that  he  became  the  object  of 
their  reproach  :  and  in  the  weakness  of  nature, 
thought  of  desisting  from  his  prophetic  office ;  but 
saith  he,  ff  His  word  was  in  my  heart  as  a  burning 
fire  shut  up  in  my  bones  ;  and  I  was  weary  with 
forbearing,  and  could  not  stay."  I  saw  at  this 
time,  that  if  I  was  honest  in  declaring  that  which 
truth  opened  in  me,  I  could  not  please  ail  men  ;  and 
laboured  to  be  content  in  the  way  of  my  duty,  how 
ever  disagreeable  to  my  own  inclination.  After 
this  I  went  homeward,  taking  Woodbridge  and 
Plainfield  in  my  way  ;  in  both  which  meetings,  the 
pure  influence  of  divine  love  was  manifested;  in  an 
humbling  sense  whereof  I  went  home:  having  been 
out  about  twenty-four  days,  and  rode  about  three 
hundred  arid  sixteen  miles. 

While  I  was  out  on  this  journey,  my  heart  was 
much  affected  with  a  senseof  the  state  of  the  churches 
in  our  southern  provinces;  and  believing  the  Lord 
was  calling  me  to  some  further  labour  amongst 
them,  I  was  bowed  in  reverence  before  Hi  in,  with 
fervent  desires  that  I  might  find  strength  to  resign 
myself  up  to  his  heavenly  will. 

Until  this  year,  1756,  I  continued  to  retail  goods, 
besides  following  my  trade  as  a  tailor:  about  which 
time,  I  grew  uneasy  on  account  of  my  business 
growing  too  cumbersome.  I  had  begun  with  sell 
ing  trimmings  for  garments,  and  from  thence  pro- 


57 

ceeded  to  sell  cloths  and  linens;  and,  at  length, 
having  got  a  considerable  shop  of  goods,,  my  trade 
increased  every  year,  and  the  road  to  large  business 
appeared  open  ;  but  I  felt  a  stop  in  my  rnind. 

Through  the  mercies  of  the  Almighty,  I  had,  in  a 
good  degree,  learned  to  be  content  with  a  plain 
way  of  living.  I  had  but  a  small  family ;  and  on 
serious  consideration,  I  believed  truth  did  not  re 
quire  me  to  engage  in  much  cumbering  affairs.  It 
had  been  my  general  practice  to  buy  and  sell  things 
really  useful.  Things  that  served  chiefly  to  please 
the  vain  mind  in  people,  I  was  not  easy  to  trade  in  ; 
seldom  did  it ;  and  whenever  I  did,  I  found  it  weaken 
me  as  a  Christian. 

The  increase  of  business  became  my  burden  ;  for 
though  my  natural  inclination  was  toward  mer 
chandize,  yet  I  believed  truth  required  me  to  live 
more  free  from  outward  cumbers :  arid  there  was 
now  a  strife  in  my  mind  between  the  two;  and  in 
this  exercise  my  prayers  were  put  up  to  the  Lord, 
who  graciously  heard  me,  and  gave  me  a  heart  re 
signed  to  his  holy  will.  Then  I  lessened  my  outward 
business;  and  as  I  had  opportunity,  told  iny  cus 
tomers  of  my  intentions,  that  they  might  consider 
what  shop  to  turn  to :  and  in  a  while  wholly  laid 
down  merchandize,  following  my  trade  as  a  tailor; 
myself  only,  ha'ving  no  apprentice.  I  also  had  a 
nursery  of  apple-trees ;  in  which  I  employed  some 
of  my  time  in  hoeing,  grafting,  trimming,  arid  ino 
culating.  In  merchandize  it  is  the  custom,  where 
I  lived,  to'1  sell  chiefly  on  credit,  and  poor  people 
often  get  iuxlebt ;  and  when  payment  is  expected, 


58 

not  having  wherewith  to  pay,  their  creditors  often 
sue  for  it  at  law.  Having  often  observed  occur 
rences  of  this  kind,,  I  found  it  good  for  me  to  advise 
poor  people,  to  take  such  goods  as  Vvere  most  use 
ful,  and  not  costly. 

In  the  time  of  trading,  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
seeing,  that  the  too  liberal  use  of  spirituous  liquors, 
and  the  custom  of  wearing  too  costly  apparel,  led 
some  people  into  great  inconveniences;  and  these 
two  things  appear  to  be  often  connected  one  with 
the  other;  for  by  riot  attending  to  that  use  of  things, 
which  is  consistent  with  universal  righteousness, 
there  is  an  increase  of  labour  which  extends  beyond 
what  our  heavenly  Father  intends  for  us.  And  by 
great  labour,  and  often  by  much  sweating,  there  is 
even  among  such  who  are  not  drunkards,  a  craving 
of  some  liquors  to  revive  the  spirits ;  that  partly  by 
the  luxurious  drinking  of  some,  and  partly  by  the 
drinking  of  others,  (led  to  it  through  immoderate 
labour)  very  great  quantities  of  rum  are  every  year 
expended  in  our  colonies;  the  greater  part  of  which 
we  should  have  no  need  of,  did  we  steadily  attend  to 
pure  wisdom. 

Where  men  take  pleasure  in  feeling  their  minds 
elevated  with  strong  drink,  and  so  indulge  their 
appetite  as  to  disorder  their  understandings,  neglect 
their  duty  as  members  in  a  family  or  civil  society, 
and  cast  off  all  regard  to  religion,  thfcir  case  is  much 
to  be  pitied.  And  where  such  whose  lives  are  for 
the  most  part  regular,  and  whose  examples  have  a 
strong  influence  on  the  minds  of  others,  adhere  to 
some  customs  which  powerfully  draw  to  the  use  of 


59 

more  strong  liquor  than  pure  wisdom  allows ;  this 
also,,  as  it  hinders  the  spreading  of  the  spirit  of 
meekness,  and  strengthens  the  hands  of  the  more 
excessive  drinkers.,  is  a  case  to  be  lamented. 

As  every  degree  of  luxury  hath  some  connexion 
with  evil ;  for  those  who  profess  to  be  disciples  of 
Christ,  and  are  looked  upon  as  leaders  of  the  people, 
to  have  that  mind  in  them,  which  was  also  in  Christ, 
and  so  stand  separate  from  every  wrong  way,  is  a 
means  of  help  to  the  weaker.     As  I  have  sometimes 
been  much  spent  in  the  heat,  arid  taken  spirits  to 
revive  me,  I  have  found  by  experience,  that  in  such 
circumstances  the  mind  is  not  so  cairn,  nor  so  fitly 
disposed  for  divine  meditation,  as  when  all  such 
extremes  are  avoided ;  and  I  have  felt  an  increasing 
care  to  attend  to  that  holy  Spirit  which  sets  right 
bounds  to  our  desires  ;  and  leads  those  who  faith 
fully  follow  it,  to  apply   all  the   gifts  of  Divine 
Providence  to  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  in 
tended.     Did  such  who  have  the  care  of  great  es 
tates,  attend  with  singleness  of  heart  to  this  heaven 
ly  Instructor,  which  so  opens  and  enlarges  the  mind, 
that  men  love  their  neighbours  as  themselves,  they 
would  have  wisdom  given  them  to  manage,  without 
finding  occasion  to   employ   some  people  in  the 
luxuries  of  life,  or  to  make  it  necessary  for  others 
ta  labour  too  hard  ;  but  for  want  of  steadily  re 
garding  this  principle  of  divine  love,  a  selfish  spirit 
takes  place  in  the  minds  of  people,  which  is  ak- 
tended  with  durkness,  and  manifold  confusions  iij 
the  world. 


60 

Though  trading  in  things  useful  is  an  honest 
employ  :  yet,,  through  the  great  number  of  super 
fluities  which  are  bought  and  sold,  and  through  the 
corruption  of  the  times,  they  who  apply  to  mer 
chandize  for  a  living,  have  great  need  to  be  well 
experienced  in  that  precept  which  the  prophet  Jere- 
iniah  laid  down  for  his  scribe:  "  Seekest  thou  great 
things  for  thyself?  seek  them  not." 

In  the  winter,  this  year,  I  was  engaged  with 
friends  in  visiting  families ;  and  through  the  good 
ness  of  the  Lord,,  we  had  often  times  experience  of 
his  heart-tendering  presence  amongst  us. 


A  copy  of  a  Letter  written  to  a  friend. 

"  IN  this  thy  late  affliction  I  have  found  a  deep 
fellow-feeling  with  thee ;  and  had  a  secret  hope 
throughout,  that  it  might  please  the  Father  of  mer 
cies  to  raise  thee  up,  and  sanctify  thy  troubles  to 
thee ;  that  thou  being  more  fully  acquainted  with 
that  way  which  the  world  esteems  foolish,  may  feel 
the  clothing  of  divine  fortitude,  and  be  strength 
ened  to  resist  that  spirit,  which  leads  from  the  sim 
plicity  of  the  everlasting  truth. 

We  may  see  ourselves  crippled  and  halting,  and 
from  a  strong  bias  to  things  pleasant  and  easy,  find 
an  impossibility  to  advance  forward ;  but  things 
impossible  with  men  are  possible  with  God ;  and 
our  wills  being  made  subject  to  his,  all  temptations 
are  surmountable. 


61 

This  work  of  subjecting  the  will,  is  compared  to 
the  mineral  in  the  furnace ;  which,  through  fervent 
heat,  is  reduced  from  its  first  principle  :  "  He  re 
fines  them  as  silver  is  refined — he  shall  sit  as  a  re 
finer,  and  purifier  of  silver/'  By  these  comparisons, 
we  are  instructed  in  the  necessity  of  the  melting 
operation  of  the  hand  of  God  upon  us,  to  prepare 
our  hearts  truly  to  adore  Him,  and  manifest  that 
adoration,  by  inwardly  turning  away  from  that 
spirit  in  all  its  workings,  which  is  not  of  Him.  To 
forward  this  work,  the  all-wise  God  is  sometimes 
pleased,  through  outward  distress,  to  bring  us  near 
the  gates  of  death  ;  that  life  being  painful  and 
afflicting,  and  the  prospect  of  eternity  open  before 
us,  all  earthly  bonds  may  be  loosened,  and  the  mind 
prepared  for  that  deep  and  sacred  instruction, 
which  otherwise  would  not  be  received.  If  kind 
parents  love  their  children,  and  delight  in  their  hap 
piness,  then  He,  who  is  perfect  goodness^  in  sending 
abroad  mortal  contagions,  doth  assuredly  direct 
their  use — Are  the  righteous  removed  by  it,  their 
change  is  happy  ;  are  the  wicked  taken  away  in 
their  wickedness,  the  Almighty  is  clear:  do  we  pass 
through  with  anguish  and  great  bitterness,  and  yet 
recover,  He  intends  that  we  should  be  purged  from 
dross,  and  our  ear  opened  to  discipline. 

And  now,  on  thy  part,  after  thy  sore  affliction  and 
doubts  of  recovery,  thou  art  again  restored,  forget 
not  Him  who  hath  helped  thee  ;  but  in  humble 
gratitude  hold  fast  his  instructions,  thereby  to  shun 
those  bye-paths  which  lead  from  the  firm  foundation. 
I  am  sensible  of  that  variety  of  company,  to  which 


62 

one  in  thy  business  must  be  exposed :  I  have  painful 
ly  felt  the  force  of  conversation  proceeding  from  men 
deeply  rooted  in  an  earthly  mind,  and  can  sympa 
thize  with  others  in  such  conflicts,  in  that  much 
weakness  still  attends  me. 

I  find  that  to  be  a  fool  as  to  worldly  wisdom,  and 
commit  my  cause  to  God,  not  fearing  to  offend 
men,  who  take  offence  at  the  simplicity  of  truth,  is 
the  only  way  to  remain  unmoved  at  the  sentiments 
of  others. 

The  fear  of  man  brings  a  snare.  By  halting  in  our 
duty,  and  giving  back  in  the  time  of  trial,  our  hands 
grow  weaker,  our  spirits  get  mingled  with  the  peo 
ple,  our  ears  grow  dull  as  to  hearing  the  language 
of  the  true  Shepherd  :  that  when  we  look  at  the 
way  of  the  righteous,  it  seems  as  though  it  was  not 
for  us  to  follow  them. 

There  is  a  love  clothes  my  mind  while  I  write, 
which  is  superior  to  all  expressions ;  and  I  find  my 
heart  open  to  encourage  to  a  holy  emulation,  to 
advance  forward  in  Christian  firmness,  Deep  humi 
lity  is  a  strong  bulwark ;  and  as  we  enter  into  it,  we 
find  safety  and  true  exaltation :  the  foolishness  of 
God  is  wiser  than  man,  and  the  weakness  of  God  is 
stronger  than  man.  Being  unclothed  of  our  own 
wisdom,  and  knowing  the  abasement  of  the  crea 
ture,  therein  we  find  that  power  to  arise,  which 
gives  health  and  vigour  to  us." 


63 


CHAP,  IV. 

His  visiting  the  families  of  friends  at  Burlington. — 
His  journey  to  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
and  North  Carolina. — Considerations  on  the  state 
of  friends  there ;  and  the  exercise  he  was  under  in 
travelling  among  those  so  generally  concerned  in 
keeping  slaves:  with  some  observations  in  conver 
sation,  at  several  times,  on  this  subject. — His  epis 
tle  to  friends  at  New  Garden  and  Crane  Creek. — 
His  thoughts  on  the  neglect  of  a  religious  care  in 
the  education  of  the  negroes. 

THE  thirteenth  day  of  the  second  month,  in  the 
year  1757,  being  then  in  good  health,  and  abroad 
with  friends  visiting  families,  I  lodged  at  a  friend's 
house  in  Burlington  ;  and  going  to  bed  about  the 
time  usual  with  me,  I  awoke  in  the  night,  arid  my 
meditations,  as  I  lay,  were  on  the  goodness  and 
mercy  of  the  Lord ;  in  a  sense  whereof  my  heart  was 
contrite.  After  this,  I  went  to  sleep  again ;  and 
sleeping  a  short  time,  I  awoke  ;  it  was  yet  daik, 
and  no  appearance  of  day  nor  moonshine  ;  and  as 
I  opened  mine  eyes,  I  saw  a  light  in  my  chamber, 
at  the  apparent  distance  of  five  feet,  about  nine 
inches  diameter,  of  a  clear  easy  brightness,  and  near 
its  center  the  most  radiant.  As  I  lay  still,  without 
any  surprize  looking  upon  it,  words  were  spoken  to 
my  inward  ear,  which  filled  my  whole  inward  man. 
They  were  not  the  effect  of  thought,  nor  any  con- 


64 

elusion  in  relation  to  the  appearance,,  but  as  the 
language  of  the  Holy  One,  spoken  in  my  mind.  The 
words  were,  CERTAIN  EVIDENCE  of  DIVINE  TRUTH  : 
and  were  again  repeated  exactly  in  the  same  man 
ner,,  whereupon  the  light  disappeared. 

Feeling  the  exercise  in  relation  to  a  visit  to  the 
Southern  Provinces  to  increase  upon  me,  I  ac 
quainted  our  monthly  meeting  therewith,  and  ob 
tained  their  certificate.  Expecting  to  go  alone,  one 
of  my  brothers  who  lived  in  Philadelphia,  having 
some  business  in  North  Carolina,  proposed  going 
with  me  part  of  the  way ;  but  as  he  had  a  view  of 
some  outward  affairs,  to  accept  of  him  as  a  com 
panion,  seemed  some  difficulty  with  me,  whereupon 
I  had  conversation  with  him  at  sundry  times  ;  and, 
at  length,  feeling  easy  in  my  mind,  I  had  conver 
sation  with  several  elderly  friends  of  Philadelphia 
on  the  subject ;  and  he  obtaining  a  certificate  suit 
able  to  the  occasion,  we  set  off  in  the  fifth  month  of 
the  year  J757;  and  coming  to  Nottingham  week 
day  meeting,  lodged  at  John  Churchman's,  and 
here  I  met  with  our  friend  Benjamin  Buffington, 
from  New  England,  who  was  returning  from  a  visit 
to  the  Southern  Provinces.  Thence  we  crossed 
the  river  Susquehannah,  and  lodged  at  William 
Cox's  in  Maryland ;  and  soon  after  I  entered  this 
province,  a  deep  and  painful  exercise  came  upon 
me,  which  I  often  had  some  feeling  of,  since  my 
mind  was  drawn  toward  these  parts,  and  with  which 
I  had  acquainted  my  brother  before  we  agreed  to 
join  as  companions. 

As  the  people  in  this  and  the  Southern  Provinces 


live  much  on  the  labour  of  slaves,  many  of  whom 
are  used  hardly,  my  concern  was,  that  1  might  at 
tend  with  singleness  of  heart  to  the  voice  of  the  true 
Shepherd,  and  be  so  supported  as  to  remain  un 
moved  at  the  faces  of  men. 

As  it  is  common  for  friends  on  such  a  visit  to  have 
entertainment  free  of  cost,  a  difficulty  arose  in  my 
mind  with  respect  to  saving  my  money  by  kindness 
received,  which  to  me  appeared  to  be  the  gain  of 
oppression . 

Receiving  a  gift,  considered  as  a  gift,  brings  the 
receiver  under  obligations  to  the  benefactor,  and 
has  a  natural  tendency  to  draw  the  obliged  into  a 
party  with  the  giver.  To  prevent  difficulties  of  this 
kind,  and  to  preserve  the  minds  of  judges  from  any 
bias,  was  that  divine  prohibition  :  cc  Thou  shalt  not 
receive  any  gift ;  for  a  gift  blindeth  the  wise,  and 
perverteth  the  words  of  the  righteous/5  Exod. 
xxiii.  8.  As  the  disciples  were  sent  forth  without 
any  provision  for  their  journey,  and  our  Lord  said 
the  workman  is  worthy  of  his  meat,  their  labour  in 
the  gospel  was  considered  as  a  reward  for  their 
entertainment,  and  therefore  not  received  as  a  gift; 
yet,  in  regard  to  my  present  journey,  I  could  not 
see  my  way  clear  in  that  respect.  The  difference 
appeared  thus  :  the  entertainment  the  disciples  met 
with,  was  from  such  whose  hearts  God  had  opened 
to  receive  them,  from  a  love  to  them,  and  the  truth 
they  published  ;  but  we,  considered  as  members  of 
the  same  religious  society,  look  upon  it  as  a  piece 
of  civility  to  receive  each  other  in  such  visits  ;  and 
such  reception,  at  times,  is  partly  in  regard  to 


reputation,  and  not  from  an  inward  unity  of  heart 
and  spirit.  Conduct  is  more  convincing  than  lan 
guage  ;  and  where  people.,  by  their  actions,  manifest 
that  the  slave-trade  is  not  so  disagreeable  to  their 
principles  but  that  it  may  be  encouraged,  there 
is  not  a  sound  uniting  with  some  friends  who  visit 
them. 

The  prospect  of  so  weighty  a  work,  and  being  so 
distinguished  from  many  whom  I  esteemed  before 
myself,  brought  me  very  low ;  and  such  \vere  the 
conflicts  of  my  soul,  that  I  had  a  near  sympathy 
with  the  prophet,  in  the  time  of  his  weakness,  when 
he  said,  "  If  thou  deal  thus  with  me,  kill  me,  I  pray 
thee,  if  I  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight;"  Num. 
xi.  15.  but  I  soon  saw  that  this  proceeded  from  the 
want  of  a  full  resignation  to  the  divine  will.     Many 
were  the  afflictions  which  attended  me;  and  in  great 
abasement,  with  many  tears,  my  cries  were  to  the 
Almighty,  for  his  gracious  and  fatherly  assistance  ; 
and  then,  after  a  time  of  deep  trial,  1  was  favoured 
to  understand  the  state  mentioned  by  the  psalmist, 
more  clearly  than  ever  I  had  before ;  to  wit :  "  My 
soul  is  even  as  a  weaned  child."     Psalrn  cxxxi.  2. 
Being  thus  helped  to  sink  down  into  resignation,  I 
felt  a  deliverance  from  that  tempest  in  which  I  had 
been   sorely  exercised,   and   in  calmness  of  mind 
went  forward,  trusting  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
as  I  faithfully  attended  to  him,  would  be  a  counsel 
lor  to  me  in  all  difficulties;  and  that  by  his  strength 
I  should  be  enabled,  even  to  leave  money  with  the 
members   of  society  where  I   had  entertainment, 
when  I  found   that   omitting  it,    would   obstruct 


67 

that  work  to  which  I  believed  he  had  called  me : 
and  as  I  copy  this  after  my  return,,  I  may  here  add, 
that  oftentimes  I  did  so,  under  a  sense  of  duty.  The 
way  in  which  I  did  it  was  thus  :  when  I  expected 
soon  to  leave  a  friend's  house  where  I  had  enter 
tainment,  if  I  believed  that  I  should  not  keep  clear 
from  the  gain  of  oppression  without  leaving  money, 
T  spoke  to  one  of  the  heads  of  the  family  privately, 
and  desired  them  to  accept  of  those  pieces  of  silver, 
and  give  them  to  such  of  their  negroes  as  they 
believed  would  make  the  best  use  of  them  ;  arid  at 
other  times,  I  gave  them  to  the  negroes  myself,  as 
the  way  looked  clearest  to  me.  As  I  expected  this 
before  I  came  out,  I  had  provided  a  large  number 
of  small  pieces ;  and  thus  offering  them  to  some 
who  appeared  to  be  wealthy  people,  was  a  trial 
both  to  me  and  them  ;  but  the  fear  of  the  Lord  so 
covered  me  at  times,  that  my  way  was  made  easier 
than  I  expected  ;  and  few,  if  any,  manifested  any 
resentment  at  the  offer,  and  most  of  them,  after  some 
talk,  accepted  of  them. 

The  seventh  day  of  the  fifth  month,  in  the  year 
1757,  lodged  at  a  friend's  house  ;  and  the  next  day, 
being  the  first  of  the  week,  was  at  Poiapsco  meet 
ing  ;  then  crossed  Patuxent  river,  and  lodged  at  a 
public-house. 

On  the  ninth,  breakfasted  at  a  friend's  house; 
who  afterwards,  putting  us  a  little  on  our  way,  I  had 
conversation  with  him,  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  con 
cerning  his  slaves ;  in  which  my  heart  was  tender, 
and  I  used  much  plainness  of  speech  with  him,  which 
he  appeared  to  take  kindly.  We  pursued  pur 


6S 

journey  without  appointing  meetings,  being  pressed 
in  my  mind  to  be  at  the  yearly  meeting  in  Virginia ; 
and  in  my  travelling  on  the  road,  I  often  felt  a  cry 
rise  from  the  centre  of  my  mind,  thus:  ff  O  Lord,  I 
am  a  stranger  on  the  earth,  hide  not  thy  face  from 
me."     On  the  eleventh  day  of  the  fifth  month,  we 
crossed  the  rivers  Patowmack  and  Rapahannock, 
and  lodged  at  Port  Royal ;    and  on  the  way  we 
happening  in  company  with  a  colonel  of  the  militia, 
who  appeared  to  be  a  thoughtful  man ;  I  took  oc 
casion  to  remark  on  the  difference  in  general  be 
twixt  a  people  used  to  labour  moderately  for  their 
living,  training  up  their  children  in  frugality  and 
business,  and  those  who  live  on  the  labour  of  slaves; 
the  former,  in  my  view,  being  the  most  happy  life : 
with  which  he  concurred,  and  mentioned  the  trouble 
arising  from  the  untoward,  slothful,  disposition  of 
the  negroes ;    adding,  that  one  of  our  labourers 
would  do  as  much  in  a  day  as  two  of  their  slaves. 
I  replied,  that  free  men,  whose  minds  were  properly 
on  their  business,  found  a  satisfaction  in  improving, 
cultivating,  and  providing  for  their  families ;  but 
negroes,   labouring  to    support  others  who  claim 
them  as  their  property,  and  expecting  nothing  but 
slavery  during  life,  had  not  the  like  inducement  to 
be  industrious. 

After  some  further  conversation,  I  said,  that  men 
having  power,  too  often  misapplied  it ;  that  though 
we  made  slaves  of  the  negroes,  and  the  Turks  made 
slaves  of  the  Christians,  I  however  believed  that 
liberty  was  the  natural  right  of  all  men  equally : 
which  he  did  not  deny;  but  said,  the  lives  of  the 


69 

negroes  were  so  wretched  in  their  own  country,  that 
many  of  them  lived  better  here  than  there.  I  only 
said,  there  is  great  odds  in  regard  to  us,  on  what 
principle  we  act ;  and  so  the  conversation  on  that 
subject  ended :  and  I  may  here  add,  that  another 
person,  some  time  afterwards,  mentioned  the  wretch 
edness  of  the  negroes,  occasioned  by  their  intestine 
wars,  as  an  argument  in  favour  of  our  fetching  them 
away  for  slaves.  To  which  I  then  replied,  if  compas 
sion  on  the  Africans,  in  regard  to  their  domestic 
troubles,  were  the  real  motives  of  our  purchasing 
them,  that  spirit  of  tenderness  being  attended  to, 
would  incite  us  to  use  them  kindly  ;  that  as  strang 
ers  brought  out  of  affliction,  their  lives  might  be 
happy  among  us ;  and  as  they  are  human  creatures, 
whose  souls  are  as  precious  as  ours,  and  .who  may 
receive  the  same  help  and  comfort  from  the  holy 
scriptures  as  we  do,  we  could  not  omit  suitable  en 
deavours  to  instruct  them  therein  ;  but  while  we 
manifest  by  our  conduct,  that  our  views  in  pur 
chasing  them  are  to  advance  ourselves ;  and  while 
our  buying  captives  taken  in  war,  animates  those 
parties  to  push  on  the  war,  and  increase  desolation 
amongst  them  ;  to  say  they  live  unhappy  in  Africa, 
is  far  from  being  an  argument  in  our  favour.  I 
further  said,  the  present  circumstances  of  these  pro-*- 
vinces  to  me  appear  difficult ;  that  the  slaves  look 
like  a  burthensome  stone  to  such  \vho  burthen 
themselves  with  them;  and  that  if  the  white  people 
retain  a  resolution  to  prefer  their  outward  prospects 
of  gain  to  all  other  considerations,  and  do  not  act 
conscientiously  toward  them  as  fellow-creatures.,  I 


70 

believe  that  burden  will  grow  heavier  and  heavier* 
until  times  change  in  a  way  disagreeable  to  us  :  at 
which  the  person  appeared  very  serious;  and 
owned,  that  in  considering  their  condition,  and  the 
manner  of  their  treatment  in  these  provinces,  he 
had  some  times  thought  it  might  be  just  in  the 
Almighty  so  to  order  it. 

Having  thus  travelled  through  Maryland,  we 
came  amongst  friends  at  Cedar  Creek  in  Virginia, 
on  the  twelfth  day  of  the  fifth  month  ;  and  the  next 
day  rode,  in  company  with  several  friends,  a  day's 
journey  to  Camp  Creek.  As  I  was  riding  along 
in  the  morning,  my  mind  was  deeply  affected  in  a 
sense  I  had  of  the  want  of  divine  aid  to  support 
me,  in  the  various  difficulties  which  attended  me  ; 
and  in  an  uncommon  distress  of  mind,  I  cried  in 
secret  to  the  Most  High,  ff  O  Lord  be  merciful,  I 
beseech  thee  to  thy  poor  afflicted  creature/'  After 
some  time,  1  felt  inward  relief;  and  soon  after,  a 
friend  in  company  began  to  talk  in  support  of  the 
slave-trade,  and  said,  the  negroes  were  understood 
to  be  the  offspring  of  Cain,  their  blackness  being 
the  mark  God  set  upon  him,  after  he  murdered 
Abel  his  brother;  that  it  was  the  design  of  Pro 
vidence  they  should  be  slaves,  as  a  condition  pro 
per  to  the  race  of  so  wicked  a  man  as  Cain  was: 
then  another  spake  in  support  of  what  had  been 
said.  To  all  which,  I  replied  in  substance  as 
follows  :  that  Noah  and  his  family  were  all  who 
survived  the  flood,  according  to  scripture ;  and  as 
Noah  was  of  Seth's  race,  the  family  of  Cain  was 
wholly  destroyed.  One  of  them  said,  that  after 


71 

the  flood  Ham  went  to  the  land  of  Nod,  and  took 
a  wife  ;  that  Nod  was  a  land  far  distant,,  inhabited 
by  Cain's  race,,  and  that  the  flood  did  not  reach  it ; 
and  as  Ham  was  sentenced  to  be  a  servant  of  ser 
vants  to  his  brethren,  these  two  families  being  thus 
joined,,  were  undoubtedly  fit  only  for  slaves.     I  re 
plied,  the  flood  was  a  judgment  upon  the  world 
for  their  abominations ;  and  it  was  granted,  that 
Cain's  stock  was  the  most  wicked,  and  therefore 
unreasonable  to  suppose  they  were  spared  :  as  to 
Ham's  going  to  the  land  of  Nod  for  a  wife,  no  time 
being  fixed,  Nod  might  be  inhabited  by  some  of 
Noah's  family,  before  Ham  married  a  second  time  : 
moreover  the  text  saith,  "  That  all  flesh  died  that 
moved  upon  the  earth/'  Gen.  vii,  21.     I  further  re 
minded  them,  how  the  prophets  repeatedly  declare, 
"  that  the  son  shall  not  suffer  for  the  iniquity  of  the 
father :  but  every  one  be  answerable  for  his  own 
sins."     I  was  troubled  to  perceive  the  darkness  of 
their  imaginations ;  and  in  some  pressure  of  spirit 
said,  the  love  of  ease  arid  gain  are  the  motives  in 
general  of  keeping  slaves,  and  men  are  wont  to 
take  hold  of  weak  arguments  to  support  a  cause 
which  is  unreasonable ;  and  added,  I  have  no  in 
terest  on  either  side,  save  only  the  interest  which  I 
desire  to  have  in  the  truth  :  and  as  I  believe  liberty 
is  their  right,  and  see  they  are  not  only  deprived  of 
it,  but  treated  in  other  respects  with  inhumanity  in 
many  places,  I  believe  He,  who  is  a  refuge  for  the 
oppressed,  will,  in  his  own  time,  plead  their  cause ; 
and  happy  will  it  be  for  such,  who  walk  in  up- 


Tightness  before  Him :  and  thus  our  conversation 
ended. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  fifth  month  I  was 
at  Camp  Creek  monthly-meeting,  and  then  rode  to 
the  mountains  up  James'  River,  and  had  a  meeting 
at  a  friend's  house  ;  in  both  which  I  felt  sqrrow  of 
heart,   and  my  tears  were  poured  out  before  the 
Lord,  who  was  pleased  to  afford  a  degree  of  strength, 
by  which  way  was  opened  to  clear  my  mind  amongst 
friends  in  those  places.   From  thence  I  went  to  Fork 
Creek,  and  so  to  Cedar  Creek  again  ;  at  which  place 
I  now  had  a  meeting.  Here  I  found  a  tender  seed  ; 
and  as  I  was  preserved  in  the  ministry  to  keep  low 
with  the  Truth  ;  the  same  truth  in  their  hearts  an 
swered  it,  that  it  was  a  time  of  mutual  refreshment 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.     I  lodged  at  James 
Standley's,  father  of  William  Standley,  one  of  the 
young  men  who  suffered  imprisonment  at  Win 
chester  last  summer,  on  account  of  their  testimony 
against  fighting ;  and  I  had  some  satisfactory  con 
versation  with  him  concerning  it.   Hence  I  went  to 
the  Swamp-meeting,  and  to  Wayanoke-meeting  ; 
and  then  crossed  James'  River,  and   lodged  near 
Burleigh.     From  the  time  of  my  entering  Maryland 
I  have  been  much  under  sorrow,  which  of  late  so 
increased  upon  me  that  my  mind  was  almost  over 
whelmed;  and  I  may  say  with  the  psalmist,  <f  In 
my  distress  I  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  cried  to 
my  God  ;"  who,  in  infinite  goodness,  looked  upon 
my  affliction,  and  in  iny  private  retirement  sent  the 
Comforter  for  my  relief;  for  which  I  humbly  bless 
holv  name. 


73 

The  sense  I  had  of  the  state  of  the  churches, 
brought  a  weight  of  distress  upon  me.     The  gold 
to  me  appeared  dim,  and  the  fine  gold  changed  ; 
and  though  this  is  the  case  too  generally,  yet  the 
sense  of  it  in  these  parts  hath,  in  a  particular  man 
ner,,  borne  heavy  upon  me.  It  appeared  to  me,  that 
through  the  prevailing  of  the  spirit  of  this  world, 
the  minds  of  many  were  brought  to  an  inward  de 
solation  ;    and  instead   of  the  spirit  of  meekness, 
gentleness,  and  heavenly  wisdom,   which  are  the 
necessary  companions  of  the  true  sheep  of  Christ, 
a  spirit  of  fierceness,  and  the  love  of  dominion,  too 
generally  prevailed.      From  small  beginnings  in 
errors,  great  buildings,  by  degrees,  are  raised;  and 
from  one  age  to  anothec  are  more  and  more  strength 
ened  by  the  general  concurrence  of  the  people ;  and 
as  men  obtain  reputation  by  their  profession  of  the 
truth,  their  virtues  are  mentioned  as  arguments  in 
favour  of  general  error ;  and  those  of  less  note,  to 
justify  themselves,  say  such  and  such  and  good  men 
did  the  like.     By  what  other  steps  could  the  people 
of  Judah  arise  to  that  height  in  wickedness,  as  to 
give  just  ground  for  the  prophet  Isaiah  to  declare 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  "  that  none  calleth  for 
justice,  nor  any  pleadeth  for  truth/'  Isaiah  lix.  4; 
or  for  the  Almighty  to  call  upon  the  great  city  of 
Jerusalem,  just  before  the   Babylonish  captivity, 
f(  If  ye  can  find  a  man,  if  there  be  any  who  execu- 
teth  judgment,  that  seeketh  the  truth,  and  I  will 
pardon  it."  Jer.  v.  1.     The  prospect  of  a  road  lying 
open  to  the  same  degeneracy,  in  some  parts  of  this 
newly  settled  land  of  America^  in   respect   to  our 


74 

conduct  towards  the  negroes,  hath  deeply  bowed 
my  mind  in  this  journey ;  and  though  to  briefly 
relate  how  these  people  are  treated  is  no  agreeable 
work ;    yet,,  after  often  reading  over  the  notes  I 
made  as  I  travelled,  I  find  my  mind  engaged  to 
preserve  them.    Many  of  the  white  people  in  those 
provinces  take  little  or  no  care  of  negro  marriages  ; 
and   when   negroes   marry   after  their   own  way, 
some  make  so  little  account  of  those   marriages, 
that  with  views  of  outward  interest,  they  often  part 
men  from  their  wives  by  selling  them  far  asunder; 
which  is  common  when  estates  are  sold  by  execu 
tors  at  vendue.    Many  whose  labour  is  heavy,  being 
followed,,  at  their  business  in  the  field,  by  a  man 
with  a  whip,  hired  for  that  purpose,  have  in  com 
mon  little  else  allowed  but  one  peck  of  Indian  corn 
and  some  salt  for  one  week,  with  a  few  potatoes  ; 
the  potatoes  they  commonly  raise  by  their  labour 
on  the  first  day  of  the  week. 

The  correction  ensuing  on  their  disobedience  to 
overseers,  or  slothfulness  in  business,  is  often  very 
severe,  and  sometimes  desperate. 

Men  and  women  have  many  times  scarce  clothes 
enough  to  hide  their  nakedness,  and  boys  and  girls, 
ten  and  twelve  years  old,  are  often  quite  naked 
amongst  their  master's  children.  Some  of  our 
society,  and  some  of  the  society  called  new-lights, 
use  some  endeavours  to  instruct  those  they  have  in 
reading ;  but  in  common  this  is  not  only  neglected, 
but  disapproved.  These  are  the  people  by  whose 
labour  the  other  inhabitants  are  in  a  great  measure 
supported,  and  many  of  them  in  the  luxuries  of 


75 

life.  These  are  the  people  who  have  made  no  agree 
ment  to  serve  us,  and  who  have  not  forfeited  their 
liberty  that  we  know  of.  These  are  the  souls  for 
whom  Christ  died  ;  and  for  our  conduct  towards 
them,  we  must  answer  before  Him  who  is  no  re 
specter  of  persons. 

They  who  know  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  He  hath  sent,  and  are  thus  acquainted 
with  the  merciful,  benevolent,  gospel  spirit,,  will 
therein  perceive  that  the  indignation  of  God  is 
kindled  against  oppression  and  cruelty  ;  and  in  be 
holding  the  great  distress  of  so  numerous  a  people, 
will  tind  cause  for  mourning. 

From  my  lodgings  I  went  to  Burleigh-meeting, 
where  I  felt  my  mind  drawn  into  a  quiet  resigned 
state  ;  and  after  long  silence,  I  felt  an  engagement 
to  stand  up  ;  and  through  the  powerful  operation 
of  divine  love,  we  were  favoured  with  an  edifying 
meeting.  The  next  meeting  we  had  was  at  Black 
Water ;  and  so  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  the  Wes 
tern  Branch.  When  business  began,  some  queries 
were  considered,  by  some  of  their  members,  to  be 
now  produced ;  and  if  approved,  to  be  answered 
hereafter  by  their  respective  monthly-meetings. 
They  were  the  Pennsylvania  queries,  which  had 
been  examined  by  a  committee  of  Virginia  yearly- 
meeting  appointed  the  last  year,  who  made  some 
alterations  in  them ;  one  of  which  alterations  was 
made  in  favour  of  a  custom  which  troubled  rne. 
The  query  was,  <f  Are  there  any  concerned  in  the 
importation  of  negroes,  or  buying  them  after  im 
ported  ?"  which  they  altered  thus  :  "  Are  there  any 


76 

concerned  in  the  importation  of  negroes,,  or  buying 
them  to  trade  in  ?"  As  one  query  admitted  with 
unanimity  was,  "  Are  any  concerned  in  buying  or 
vending  goods  unlawfully  imported,  or  prize 
goods?"  I  found  my  rnind  engaged  to  say,  that 
as  we  profess  the  truth,  and  were  there  assembled 
to  support  the  testimony  of  it,  it  was  necessary  for 
us  to  dwell  deep,  and  act  in  that  wisdom  which  is 
pure  ;  or  otherwise  we  could  not  prosper.  I  then 
mentioned  their  alteration  ;  and,  referring  to  the 
last  mentioned  query,  added,  as  purchasing  any 
merchandize  taken  by  the  sword,  was  always  al 
lowed  to  be  inconsistent  with  our  principles ;  ne 
groes  being  captives  of  war,  or  taken  by  stealth, 
those  circumstances  make  it  inconsistent  with  our 
testimony  to  buy  them  ;  and  their  being  our  fellow- 
creatures,  who  are  sold  as  slaves,  adds  greatly  to 
the  iniquity  Friends  appeared  attentive  to  what 
was  said ;  some  expressed  a  care  and  concern  about 
their  negroes;  none  made  any  objection,  by  way 
of  reply  to  what  I  said  ;  but  the  query  was  ad 
mitted  as  they  had  altered  it.  As  some  of  their 
members  have  heretofore  traded  in  negroes,  as  in 
other  merchandize,  this  query  being  admitted,  will 
be  one  step  further  than  they  have  hitherto  gone ; 
and  I  did  not  see  it  my  duty  to  press  for  an  altera 
tion  ;  but  felt  easy  to  leave  it  all  to  Him,  who  alone 
is  able  to  turn  the  hearts  of  the  mighty,  and  make 
\vay  for  the  spreading  of  truth  on  the  earth,  by 
means  agreeable  to  his  infinite  wisdom.  But  in 
regard  to  those  they  already  had,  I  felt  my  mind 
engaged  to  labour  with  them ;  and  said^  that,  as 


77 

we  believe  the  scriptures  were  given  forth  by  holy 
men,  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
many  of  us  know  by  experience  that  they  are  often 
helpful  and  comfortable,  and  believe  ourselves 
bound  in  duty  to  teach  our  children  to  read  them  ; 
I  believe,  that  if  we  were  divested  of  all  selfish 
views,  the  same  good  spirit  that  gave  them  forth, 
would  engage  us  to  teach  the  negroes  to  read,  that 
they  might  have  the  benefit  of  them.  Some  there 
were  amongst  them,  who  at  this  time,  manifested  a 
concern  in  regard  to  taking  more  care  in  the  educa 
tion  of  their  negroes. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  the  fifth  month,  at 
the  house  where  I  lodged,  was  a  meeting  of  ministers  y 
and  elders,  at  the  ninth  hour  in  the  morning  ;  at  ' 
which  time  I  found  an  engagement  to  speak  freely 
and  plainly  to  them  concerning  their  slaves ;  men 
tioning,  how  they,  as  the  first  rank  in  the  society, 
whose  conduct  in  that  case  was  much  noticed  by 
others,  were  under  the  stronger  obligations  to 
look  carefully  to  themselves.  Expressing  how  need 
ful  it  was  for  them  in  that  situation,  to  be  thoroughly 
divested  of  all  selfish  views ;  that  living  in  the  pure 
truth,  and  acting  conscientiously  toward  those 
people  in  their  education  and  otherwise,  they  might 
be  instrumental  in  helping  forward  a  work  so  exceed 
ingly  necessary,  and  so  much  neglected  amongst 
them.  At  the  twelfth  hour  the  meeting  of  worship 
began  ;  which  was  a  solid  meeting. 

On  the  thirtieth  day,  about  the  tenth  hour, 
friends  met  to  finish  their  business,  and  then  the 
meeting  for  worship  ensued,  which  to  me  was  a 


7S 

laborious  time ;  but  through  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord,  Truth,  I  believe,  gained  some  ground  ;  and 
it  was  a  strengthening  opportunity  to  the  honest- 
hearted  . 

About  this  time  I  wrote  an  epistle  to  friends  in 
the  back  settlements  of  North  Carolina,  as  follows  : 

To  Friends  at  their  monthly -meeting  at  New  Garden 
and  Cane  Creek,  in  North  Carolina, 

Dear  Friends, 

IT  having  pleased  the  Lord  to  draw  me  forth  on 
a  visit  to  some  parts  of  Virginia  and  Carolina,  you 
have  often  been  in  my  mind  ;  and  though  my  way 
is  not  clear  to  come  in  person  to  visit  you,  yet  I 
feel  it  in  my  heart  to  communicate  a  few  things, 
as  they  arise  in  the  love  of  truth.  First,  my  dear 
friends,  dwell  in  humility;  and  take  heed  that  no 
views  of  outward  gain  get  too  deep  hold  of  you, 
that  so  your  eyes  being  single  to  the  Lord,  you 
may  be  preserved  in  the  way  of  safety.  Where 
people  let  loose  their  minds  after  the  love  of  out 
ward  things,  and  are  more  engaged  in  pursuing 
the  profits,  and  seeking  the  friendships  of  this 
world,  than  to  be  inwardly  acquainted  with  the 
way  of  true  peace  ;  such  walk  in  a  vain  shadow, 
while  the  true  comfort  of  life  is  wanting.  Their 
examples  are  often  hurtful  to  others;  and  their 
treasures  thus  collected,  do  many  times  prove 
dangerous  snares  to  their  children. 

But  where  people  are  sincerely  devoted  to  follow 
Christ,  and  dwell  under  the  influence  of  his  Holy 


79 

Spirit,  their  stability  and  firmness,  through  a  divine 
blessing,  is  at  times  like  dew  on  the  tender  plants 
round  about  them,  and  the  weightiness  of  their 
spirits  secretly  works  on  the  minds  of  others ;  and 
in  this  condition,  through  the  spreading  influence 
of  divine  love,  they  feel  a  care  over  the  flock ;  and 
way  is  opened  for  maintaining  good  order  in  the 
society.  And  though  we  meet  with  opposition 
from  another  spirit,  yet,  as  there  is  a  dwelling  in 
meekness,  feeling  our  spirits  subject,  and  moving- 
only  in  the  gentle  peaceable  wisdom,  the  inward 
reward  of  quietness  will  be  greater  than  all  our 
difficulties.  Where  the  pure  life  is  kept  to,  and 
meetings  of  discipline  are  held  in  the  authority  of 
it,  we  find  by  experience  that  they  are  comfortable, 
and  tend  to  the  health  of  the  body. 

While  I  write,  the  youth  come  fresh  in  my  way. 
Dear  young  people,  choose  God  for  your  portion  ; 
love  his  truth,  and  be  not  ashamed  of  it ;  choose 
for  your  company  such  who  serve  Him  in  upright 
ness  ;  mid  shun,  as  most  dangerous,  the  conversa 
tion  of  those  whose  lives  are  of  an  ill  savour;  for 
by  frequenting  such  company,  some  hopeful  young 
people  have  come  to  great  loss,  and  been  drawn 
from  less  evils  to  greater,  to  their  utter  ruin.  In 
the  bloom  of  youth  no  ornament  is  so  lovely  as 
that  of  virtue,  nor  any  enjoyments  equal  to  those 
which  we  partake  of,  in  fully  resigning  ourselves  to 
the  divine  will.  These  enjoyments  add  sweetness 
to  all  other  comforts,  and  give  true  satisfaction  in 
company  and  conversation,  where  people  are  mu 
tually  acquainted  with  it ;  and  as  your  minds  are 


80 

thus  seasoned  with  the  truth,  you  will  find  strength 
to  abide  stedfast  to  the  testimony  of  it,  and  be  pre 
pared  for  services  in  the  church. 

And  now,,  dear  friends  arid  brethren,  as  you  are 
improving  a  wilderness,  and  may  be  numbered 
amongst  the  first  planters  in  one  part  of  a  province, 
I  beseech  you,  in  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  wisely 
consider  the  force  of  your  examples,  and  think  how 
much  your  successors  may  be  thereby  affected.  It 
is  a  help  in  a  country;  yea,  and  a  great  favour  and 
a  blessing,  when  customs  first  settled,  are  agreeable 
to  sound  wisdom  ;  so  when  they  are  otherwise, 
the  effect  of  them  is  grievous ;  and  children  feel 
themselves  encompassed  with  difficulties  prepared 
for  them  by  their  predecessors. 

As  moderate  care  and  exercise,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  true  wisdom,  are  useful  both  to  mind  and 
body;  so,  by  these  means  in  general,  the  real  wants 
of  life  are  easily  supplied.  Our  gracious  Father 
having  so  proportioned  one  to  the  other,  that  keep 
ing  in  the  medium  we  may  pass  on  quietly.  Where 
slaves  are  purchased  to  do  our  labour,  numerous 
difficulties  attend  it.  To  rational  creatures  bond 
age  is  uneasy,  and  frequently  occasions  sourness 
and  discontent  in  them  ;  which  affects  the  family, 
and  such  who  claim  the  mastery  over  them.  And 
ihus  people  and  their  children  are  many  times  en 
compassed  with  vexations,  which  arise  from  their 
applying  to  wrong  methods  to  get  a  living. 

1  have  been  informed  that  there  are  a  large  num 
ber  of  friends  in  your  parts,  who  have  no  slaves; 
and  in  tender  and  most  affectionate  love,  I  beseech 


81 

you  to  keep  clear  from  purchasing  any.  Look,  my 
dear  friends,  to  Divine  Providence ;  and  follow  in 
simplicity  that  exercise  of  body,  that  plainness  and 
frugality,,  which  true  wisdom  leads  to  ;  so  may  you 
be  preserved  from  those  dangers  which  attend  such 
who  are  aiming  at  outward  ease  and  greatness. 

Treasures,  though  small,  attained  on  a  true  prin 
ciple  of  virtue,  are  sweet  in  the  possession  ;  and 
while  we  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord,  there  is 
true  comfort  and  satisfaction.  Here,  neither  the 
murmurs  of  an  oppressed  people,  nor  throbbing 
uneasy  conscience,  nor  anxious  thoughts  about  the 
events  of  things,  hinder  the  enjoyment  of  it. 

When  we  look  towards  the  end  of  life,  arid  think 
on  the  division  of  our  substance  among  our  suc 
cessors  ;  if  we  know  that  it  was  collected  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  in  honesty,  in  equity,  and  in  up 
rightness  of  heart  before  Him,  we  may  consider  it 
as  his  gift  to  us ;  and  with  a  single  eye  to  his  bles 
sing,  bestow  it  on  those  we  leave  behind  us.  Such 
is  the  happiness  of  the  plain  ways  of  true  virtue. 
"  The  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace  ;  and 
the  effect  of  righteousness,  quietness  and  assurance 
for  ever."  Isa.  xxxii.  17. 

Dwell  here,  my  dear  friends;  and  then  in  remote 
and  solitary  deserts,  you  may  find  true  peace  and 
satisfaction.  If  the  Lord  be  our  God,  in  truth  and 
reality,  there  is  safety  for  us ;  for  He  is  a  strong 
hold  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  knoweth  them  that 
trust  in  Him. 

Isle  of  Wight  County,  in  Virginia, 
29th  of  the  bth  month,  1757. 


82 

From  the  yearly  meeting  in  Virginia,  I  went  to 
Carolina ;  and  on  the  first  day  of  the  sixth  month, 
was  at  Wells  monthly  meeting-,  where  the  spring  of 
the  gospel  ministry  was  opened,  arid  the  love  of 
Jesus  Christ  experienced  amongst  us:  to  his  name 
be  the  praise. 

Here  my  brother  joined  with  some  friends  from 
New  Garden,  who  were  going  homeward  ;  and  I 
went  next  to  Simons  Creek  monthly  meeting,  where 
I  was  silent  during  the  meeting  for  worship ;  and 
when  business  came  on,  my  rnind  was  exercised 
concerning  the  poor  slaves ;  but  did  not  feel  my 
way  clear  to  speak.  In  this  condition  I  was  bowed 
in  spirit  before  the  Lord  ;  and  with  tears  and  in 
ward  supplication  besought  Him,,  so  to  open  my 
understanding,  that  I  might  know  his  will  concern 
ing  me;  and,  at  length,  my  mind  was  settled  in 
silence.  Near  the  end  of  their  business,  a  member 
of  their  meeting  expressed  a  concern,  that  had  some 
time  lain  upon  him,  on  account  of  friends  so  much 
neglecting  their  duty  in  the  education  of  their 
slaves ;  and  proposed  having  meetings  sometimes 
appointed  for  them  on  a  week  day,  to  be  only  at 
tended  by  some  friends  to  be  named  in  their 
monthly  meetings  ;  many  present  appeared  to  unite 
with  the  proposal.  One  said,  he  had  often  won 
dered  that  they,  being  our  fellow-creatures  and 
capable  of  religious  understanding,  had  been  so 
exceedingly  neglected :  another  expressed  the  like 
concern,  and  appeared  zealous,  that  friends,  in 
future,  might  more  closely  consider  it.  At  length 
a  minute  was  made ;  and  the  further  consideration 


83 

of  it  referred  to  then-  next  monthly  meeting.  The 
friend  who  made  this  proposal  hath  negroes  :  he 
told  me,  that  he  was  at  New  Garden  ;  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  home,,  and  came  back 
alone;  and  that  in  this  solitary  journey,  this  exer 
cise,  in  regard  to  the  education  of  their  negroes, 
was,  from  time  to  time.,  renewed  in  his  mind.  A 
friend  of  some  note  in  Virginia,  who  hath  slaves, 
told  me,  that  he  being  far  from  home  on  a  lonesome 
journey,  had  many  serious  thoughts  about  them  ; 
and  that  his  mind  was  so  impressed  therewith,  that 
he  believed  that  he  saw  a  time  coming,  when  Divine 
Providence  would  alter  the  circumstance  of  these 
people,  respecting  their  condition  as  slaves. 

From  hence  I  went  to  Newbegun  Creek,  and  sat 
a  considerable  time  in  much  weakness ;  then  I  felt 
truth  open  the  way  to  speak  a  little  in  much  plain 
ness  and  simplicity,  till,  at  length,  through  the 
increase  of  divine  love  amongst  us,  we  had  a  sea 
soning  opportunity.  From  thence  to  the  head  of 
Little  River,  on  a  first  day,  where  was  a  crowded 
meeting;  and,  I  believe,  was  through  divine  good 
ness,  made  profitable  to  some.  Thence  to  the  Old 
Neck  ;  where  I  was  led  into  a  careful  searching  out 
of  the  secret  workings  of  the  mystery  of  iniquity, 
which,  under  a  cover  of  religion,  exalts  itself  against 
that  pure  spirit,  which  leads  in  the  way  of  meekness 
and  self-denial.  From  thence  to  Piney woods : 
this  was  the  last  meeting  I  was  at  in  Carolina,  and 
was  large ;  and  my  heart  being  deeply  engaged, 
I  was  drawn  forth  into  a  fervent  labour  amongst 
them. 


84 

When  I  was  at  Newbcgun  Creek,  a  friend  was 
there  who  laboured  for  his  living,  having  no  ne 
groes,  and  had  been  a  minister  many  years.  He 
came  to  me  the  next  day  ;  and  as  we  rode  together, 
he  signified  that  he  wanted  to  talk  with  me  con 
cerning  a  difficulty  he  had  been  under,  and  related 
it  nearly  as  follows  :  to  wit,  that  as  monies  had  of 
late  years  been  raised  by  a  tax  to  carry  on  the 
wars,  he  had  a  scruple  in  his  mind  in  regard  to  pay 
ing  it ;  and  chose  rather  to  suffer  distraint  of  his 
goods  than  pay  it ;  and  as  he  was  the  only  person 
who  refused  it  in  those  parts,  and  knew  not  that  any 
one  else  was  in  the  like  circumstances,  he  signified 
that  it  had  been  a  heavy  trial  to  him  ;  and  more  so, 
for  that  some  of  his  brethren  had  been  uneasy  with 
his  conduct  in  that  case.  He  added,  that  from  a 
sympathy  he  felt  with  me  yesterday  in  meeting,  he 
found  freedom  thus  to  open  the  matter,  in  the 
way  of  querying  concerning  friends  in  our  parts  : 
whereupon  I  told  him  the  state  of  friends  amongst 
us,  as  well  as  I  was  able ;  and  also,  that  I  had,  for 
some  time,  been  under  the  like  scruple.  I  believed 
him  to  be  one  who  was  concerned  to  walk  up 
rightly  before  the  Lord  ;  and  esteemed  it  my 
duty  to  preserve  this  note  concerning  him,  Samuel 
Newby. 

From  hence  I  went  back  into  Virginia,  and  had 
a  meeting  near  James  Cowpknd's ;  it  was  a  time 
of  inward  suffering;  but,  through  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord,  I  was  made  content;  then  to  another 
meeting;  where,  through  the  renewings  of  pure  love, 
we  had  a  very  comfortable  season. 


85 

Travel  ling- "up  and  down  of  late,  I  have  had  re 
newed  evidences,  that  to  be  faithful  to  the  Lord, 
and  content  with  his  will  concerning  me/ is  a  most 
necessary  and  useful  lesson  for  me  to  be  learning  ; 
looking  less  at  the  effects  of  my  labour,,  than  at  the 
pure  motion  and  reality  of  the  concern,  as  it  arises 
from  heavenly  love.  In  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  ever 
lasting  strength  ;  and  as  the  mind,,  by  a  humble 
resignation,,  is  united  to  Him,,  and  we  utter  words 
from  an  inward  knowledge  that  they  arise  from  the 
heavenly  spring,  though  our  way  may  be  difficult., 
and  require  close  attention  to  keep  in  it;  and 
though  the  manner  in  which  we  may  be  led,  may 
tend  to  our  own  abasement;  yet,  if  we  continue  in 
patience  and  meekness,  heavenly  peace  is  the  re 
ward  of  our  labours. 

From  thence  I  went  to  Curies  meeting;  which, 
though  small,  was  reviving  to  the  honest-hearted. 
Thence  to  Black  Creek  and  Caroline  meetings  ; 
from  whence,  accompanied  by  William  Standley, 
before  mentioned,  we  rode  to  Goose  Creek,  being- 
much  through  the  woods,  and  about  one  hundred 
miles.  We  lodged,  the  first  night,  at  a  public- 
house  ;  the  second,  in  the  woods ;  and  the  next 
day,  we  reached  a  friend's  house,  at  Goose  Creek. 
In  the  woods  we  lay  under  some  disadvantage, 
having  no  fire-works  nor  bells  for  our  horses  ;  but 
we  stopped  a  little  before  night,  and  let  them  feed 
on  the  wild  grass  which  was  plentiful ;  in  the  mean 
time  cuttin"'  with  our  knives  a  store  against  iiiirfH. 

O  O  o        * 

and  then  tied  them  ;    and  gathering  some  bushes 
under  an  oak,  we  lay  down  ;  but  the  musquetoes 


86 

being  numerous  and  the  ground  damp,  I  slept  but 
little.     Thus  lying  in  the  wilderness,,  and  looking 
at  the  stars,  I  was  led  to  contemplate  on  the  con 
dition  of  our  first  parents,,   when  they  were  sent 
forth  from  the  garden  ;  but  the  Almighty,  though 
they  had  been  disobedient,  continued  to  be  a  father 
to  them;   and  showed  them  what  tended  to  their 
felicity  as  intelligent  creatures,  and  was  acceptable 
to  Him.     To  provide  things  relative  to  our  outward 
living,  in  the  way  of  true  wisdom,  is  good  ;  and  the 
gift  of  improving  in  things  useful,  is  a  good  gift, 
and  comes  from  the  Father  of  lights.     Many  have 
had  this  gift ;    and,  from  age  to  age,  there  have 
been  improvements  of  this  kind  made  in  the  world, 
But  some  not  keeping  to  the  pure  gift,  have,  in  the 
creaturely  cunning  and  self-exaltation,  sought  out 
many  inventions;  which  inventions  of  men,  as  dis 
tinct  from  that  uprightness  in  which  man  was  cre 
ated,  as  the  first  motion  to  them  was  evil,  so  the 
effects  have  been  and  are  evil.     At  this  day,  it  is 
as   necessary  for   us  constantly  to  attend  ou  the 
heavenly  gift,  to  be  qualified  to   use  rightly  the 
good  things  in  this  life  amidst  great  improvements, 
as  it  was  for  our  first  parents,  when  they  were  with 
out  any  improvements,  without  any  friend  or  father 
but  God  only. 

I  was  at  a  meeting  at  Goose  Creek ;  and  next  at 
a  monthly  meeting  at  Fairfax  ;  where,  through  the 
gracious  dealing  of  the  Almighty  with  us,  his  power 
prevailed  over  many  hearts.  Thence  to  Mono- 
quacy  and  Pipe  Creek.,  in  Maryland ;  at  both  which 
places  I  had  cause  humbly  to  adore  Him,  who  sup- 


87 

ported  me  through  many  exercises.,  and  by  whose 
help  I  was  enabled  to  reach  the  true  witness  in  the 
hearts  of  others.  There  were  some  hopeful  young 
people  in  those  parts.  Thence  I  had  meetings  at 
John  Event's  in  Monalen,  and  at  Huntingdon ;  and 
I  was  made  humbly  thankful  to  the  Lord,  who 
opened  my  heart  amongst  the  people  in  these  new 
settlements,  so  that  it  was  a  time  of  encouragement 
to  the  honest-minded. 

At  Monalen,  a  friend  gave  me  some  account  of 
a  religious  society  among  the  Dutch,  called  Men- 
nonists;  and,  amongst  other  things,  related  a  pas 
sage  in  substance  as  follows : — One  of  the  Men- 
nonists  having  acquaintance  with  a  man  of  another 
society  at  a  considerable  distance,,  and  being  with 
his  waggon  on  business  near  the  house  of  his  said 
acquaintance,  and  night  coining  on,  he  had  thoughts 
of  putting  up  with  him  ;  but  passing  by  his  fields, 
and  observing  the  distressed  appearance  of  his 
slaves,  he  kindled  a  fire  in  the  woods  hard  by,  and 
lay  there  that  night.  His  said  acquaintance  hearing 
where  he  lodged,  and,  afterwards  meeting  the 
Mennonist,  told  him  of  it;  adding,  he  should  have 
been  heartily  welcome  at  his  house;  and  from  their 
acquaintance  in  former  time,  wondered  at  his  con 
duct  in  that  case:  the  Mennonist  replied,  ever  since 
I  lodged  by  thy  field,  I  have  wanted  an  opportunity 
to  speak  with  thee.  The  matter  was  ;  I  intended 
to  have  come  to  thy  house  for  entertainment,  but 
seeing  thy  slaves  at  their  work,  and  observing  the 
manner  of  their  dress,  I  had  no  liking  to  corne  to 
partake  with  thee ;  then  admonished  him  to  use 


88 

them  with  more  humanity  ;  and  added,  as  I  lay  by 
the  fire  that  night.,  I  thought  that  as  I  was  a  man  of 
substance,  thon  wonldst  have  received  me  freely  ; 
but  if  1  had  been  as  poor  as  one  of  thy  slaves,  and 
had  no  power  to  help  myself,  1  should  have  received 
from  thy  hand  no  kinder  usage  than  they. 

Hence  1  was  at  three  meetings  in  my  way  ;  and 
so  I  went  home,  under  a  humbling  sense  of  the 
gracious  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  me,  in  preserving 
me  through  many  trials  and  afflictions  in  my  jour 
ney.  I  was  out  about  two  mouths,,  and  travelled 
about  eleven  hundred  and  iifty  miles. 


89 


CHAP-  V. 

Considerations  on  the  payment  of  a  tax,  laid  for 
carrying  on  the  war  against  the  Indians. — Some 
notes  on  Thomas  a  Kempis  and  John  Huss. — 
Meetings  of  the  committee  of  the  yearly  meeting 
at  Philadelphia. —  The  present  circumstances  of 

friends  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  very 
different  from  those  of  our  predecessors. —  The 
draughting  of  the  militia  in  New  Jersey  to  serve  in 
the  army  ;  with  some  observations  on  the  state  of 
the  members  of  our  society  at  that  time. — His  visit 
to  friends  in  Pennsylvania,  accompanied  by  Ben- 

jamin  Jones. — Proceedings  at  the  monthly,  quar 
terly,  and  yearly  ?neetings3  in  Philadelphia,  re 
specting  those  who  keep  slaves. 

A  FEW  years  past,,  money  being  made  current  in 
our  province  for  carrying  on  wars,,  arid  to  be  called 
in  again  by  taxes  laid  on  the  inhabitants,  my  mind 
was  often  affected  with  the  thoughts  of  paying  such 
taxes;  and  I  believe  it  right  for  me  to  preserve  a 
memorandum  concerning  it.  I  was  told,,  that  friends 
in  England  frequently  paid  taxes.,  when  the  money 
was  applied  to  such  purposes.  I  had  conversation 
with  several  noted  friends  on  the  subject,  who  all 
favoured  the  payment  of  such  taxes;  some  of  whom 
I  preferred  before  myself,  and  this  made  me  easier 
for  a  time,  yet  there  was  in  the  deeps  of  my- mind, 


90 

a  scruple  which  I  never  could  get  over;  and,  at 
certain  times,,  I  was  greatly  distressed  on  that  ac 
count. 

I  all  along  believed  that  there  were  some  upright- 
hearted  men.,  who  paid  such  taxes ;  but  could  not 
see  that  their  example  was  a  sufficient  reason  for 
me  to  do  so,,  while  I  believed  that  the  spirit  of  truth 
required  of  me.,  as  an  individual,  to  suffer  patiently 
the  distress  of  goods,  rather  than  pay  actively. 

I  have  been  informed  that  Thomas  a  Kempis  lived 
and  died  in  the  profession  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion  ;  and  in  reading  his  writings,  I  have  be 
lieved  him  to  be  a  man  of  a  true  Christian  spirit  ; 
as  fully  so,  as  many  who  died  martyrs  because 
they  could  not  join  with  some  superstitions  in  that 
church. 

All  true  Christians  are  of  the  same  spirit,  but 
their  gifts  are  diverse;  Jesus  Christ  appointing  to 
each  one  his  peculiar  office,  agreeable  to  his  infi 
nite  wisdom. 

John  Huss  contended  against  the  errors  crept 
into  the  church,  in  opposition  to  the  council  of 
Constance;  which  the  historian  reports  to  have 
consisted  of  some  thousand  persons.  He  modestly 
vindicated  the  cause  which  he  believed  was  right; 
and  though  his  language  and  conduct  towards  his 
judges  appear  to  have  been  respectful,  yet  he  never 
could  be  moved  from  the  principles  settled  in  his 
mind.  To  use  his  own  words;  "  This  I  most 
humbly  require  and  desire  of  you  all,  even  for  his 
sake  who  is  the  God  of  us  all,  that  I  be  not  com 
pelled  to  the  thing  which  my  conscience  doth  re- 


91 

pugn  or  strive  against."  And  again,  in  his  answer 
to  the  emperor ;  "  I  refuse  nothing,  most  noble  em 
peror,  whatsoever  the  council  shall  decree  or  deter 
mine  upon  me,  only  this  one  thing  I  except,  that  I 
do  not  offend  God  and  my  conscience/'  Fox's 
Acts  and  Monuments,,  page  233.  At  length,  rather 
than  act  contrary  to  that  which  he  believed  the 
Lord  required  of  him,  he  chose  to  suffer  death  by 
fire.  Thomas  a  Keinpis,  without  disputing  against 
the  articles  then  generally  agreed  to,  appears  to  have 
laboured,  by  a  pious  example  as  well  as  by  preach 
ing  and  writing,  to  promote  virtue,  and  the  inward 
spiritual  religion  :  and  I  believe  they  were  both 
sincere-hearted  followers  of  Christ. 

True  charity  is  an  excellent  virtue ;  and  sincerely 
to  labour  for  their  good,  whose  belief,  in  all  points, 
doth  not  agree  with  ours,  is  a  happy  state.     To 
refuse  the  active  payment  of  a  tax  which  our  society 
generally  paid  was  exceedingly  disagreeable  ;  but 
to  do  a  thing  contrary  to  my  conscience,  appeared 
yet  more  dreadful.     When  this  exercise  came  upon 
me,  I  knew  of  none  under  the  like  difficulty ;  and, 
in  my  distress,  I  besought  the  Lord  to  enable  me  to 
give  up  all,  that  so  I  might  follow  Him  wheresoever 
He  was  pleased  to  lead  rne.     And  under  this  exer 
cise  I  went  to  our  yearly  meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
in  the  year  1755;  at  which  a  committee  was  ap 
pointed  of  some  from  each  quarter,  to  correspond 
with  the  meeting  for  sufferings  in  London ;    and 
another  to  visit  our  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings ; 
and  after  their  appointment,  before  the  last  adjourn-, 
meat  of  the  meeting,  it  was  agreed  in  the  meeting, 


92 

that  these  two  committees  should  meet  together  in 
friends  school-house  in  the  city,,  at  a  time  then  con 
cluded  on,  to  consider  some  things  in  which  the 
cause  of  truth  was  concerned ;  and  these  committees 
meeting  together,,  had  a  weighty  conference  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  ;  at  which  time,  I  perceived,,  there 
were  many  friends  under  a  scruple  like  that  before- 
mentioned.* 

As  scrupling  to  pay  a  tax  on  account  of  the  appli 
cation,,  hath  seldom  been  heard  of  heretofore,  even 
amongst  men  of  integrity,  who  have  steadily  borne 
their  testimony  against  outward  wars  in  their  time  ; 
I  may  here  note  some  things  which  have  occurred 
to  my  mind,  as  I  have  been  inwardly  exercised  on 
that  account.  From  the  steady  opposition  which 
faithful  friends,  in  early  times,  made  to  wrong  things 
then  approved  of,  they  were  hated  and  persecuted 
by  men  living  in  the  spirit  of  this  world  ;  and  suf 
fering  with  firmness,  they  were  made  a  blessing  to 
the  church,  and  the  work  prospered.  It  equally 
concerns  men,  in  every  age,  to  take  heed  to  their 
own  spirit :  and  in  comparing  their  situation  with 
ours,  it  looks  to  me  there  was  less  danger  of  their 
being  infected  with  the  spirit  of  this  world,  in  pay 
ing  such  taxes,  than  there  is  of  us  now.  They  had 
little  or  no  share  in  civil  government;  and  many  or' 
them  declared  they  were,  through  the  power  of 
God,  separated  from  the  spirit  in  which  wars  were  ; 
and  being  afflicted  by  the  rulers  on  account  of  their 

*  Christians  refused  to  pay  taxes  to  support  heathen  temples. 
See  Primitive  Christianity,  part  III,  page  327. 


93 

testimony.,  there  was  less  likelihood  of  uniting  in 
spirit  with  them  in  things  inconsistent  with  the 
purity  of  truth.  We,  from  the  first  settlement  of 
this  land,,  have  known  little  or  no  troubles  of  that 
sort.  Their  profession,  for  a  time,  was  accounted 
reproachful ;  hut,  at  length,,  the  uprightness  of  our 
predecessors  being  understood  by  the  rulers,  and 
their  innocent  sufferings  moving  them,  our  way  of 
worship  was  tolerated ;  and  many  of  our  members 
in  these  colonies  became  active  in  civil  government. 
Being  thus  tried  with  favour  and  prosperity,  this 
world  hath  appeared  inviting;  our  minds  have  been 
turned  to  the  improvement  of  our  country,  to  mer 
chandize  and  sciences,  amongst  which  are  many 
things  useful,  being  followed  in  pure  wisdom  ;  but 
in  our  present  condition,  that  a  carnal  mind  is 
gaining  upon  us,  I  believe  will  not  be  denied. 
Some  of  our  members,  who  are  officers  in  civil 
government,  are,  in  one  case  or  other,  called  upon 
in  their  respective  stations  to  assist  in  things  rela 
tive  to  the  wars.  Such  being  in  doubt  whether  to 
act,  or  crave  to  be  excused  from  their  office,  seeing 
their  brethren  united  in  the  payment  of  a  tax  to 
carry  on  the  said  wars,  might  think  their  case  not 
much  different,  and  so  quench  the  tender  movings 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  minds ;  and  thus,  by 
small  degrees,  there  might  be  an  approach  towards 
that  of  fighting,  till  we  came  so  near  it,  as  that  the 
distinction  would  be  little  else,  but  the  name  of  a 
peaceable  people. 

It  requires  great  self-denial  and  resignation   of 
ourselves  to  God,  to  attain  that  state  wherein  we 


94 

can  freely  cease  from  fighting1  when  wrongfully  in 
vaded  ;  if,  by  our  fighting,  there  were  a  probability 
of  overcoming  the  invaders.  Whoever  rightly  attains 
to  it,  does  in  some  degree  feel  that,  spirit,  in  which 
our  Redeemer  gave  his  life  for  us ;  and  through 
divine  goodness,  many  of  our  predecessors,,  and 
many  now  living,  have  learned  this  blessed  lesson  ; 
but  many  others,  having  their  religion  chiefly  by 
education,  and  riot  being  enough  acquainted  with 
that  cross  which  crucifies  to  the  world,  do  manifest  a 
temper  distinguishable  from  that  of  an  entire  trust 
in  God.  In  calmly  considering  these  things,  it  hath 
not  appeared  strange  to  me,  that  an  exercise  hath 
now  fallen  upon  some,  which,  as  to  the  outward 
means  of  it,  is  different  from  what  was  known  to 
many  of  those  who  went  before  us. 

Some  time  after  the  yearly  meeting,  a  clay  being 
appointed,  and  letters  written  to  distant  members, 
the  said  committees  met  at  Philadelphia ;  and,  by 
adjournments,  continued  several  days.  The  calami 
ties  of  war  were  now  increasing ;  the  frontier  in 
habitants  of  Pennsylvania  were  frequently  sur 
prised,  some  slain,  and  many  taken  captive  by  the 
Indians  ;  and  while  these  committees  sat,  the  corpse 
of  one  so  slain  was  brought  in  a  waggon,  and 
taken  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  in  his  bloody 
garments,  to  alarm  the  people,  and  rouse  them  up 
to  war. 

Friends  thus  met  were  not  all  of  one  mind  in 
relation  to  the  tax  ;  which,  to  such  who  scrupled  it, 
made  the  way  more  difficult.  To  refuse  an  active 
payment  at  such  a  time,  might  be  construed  an  act 


95 

of  disloyalty,  and  appeared  likely  to  displease  the 
rulers,  not  only  here  but  in  England;  still  there  was 
a  scruple  so  fastened  upon  the  rninds  of  many 
friends,  that  nothing  moved  it.  It  was  a  conference 
the  most  weighty  that  ever  I  was  at ;  and  the 
hearts  of  many  were  bowed  in  reverence  before  the 
Most  High.  Some  friends  of  the  said  committees 
who  appeared  easy  to  pay  the  tax,  after  several 
adjournments,  withdrew;  others  of  them  continued 
till  the  last ;  at  length,  an  epistle  of  tender  love  and 
caution,  to  friends  in  Pennsylvania,  was  drawn  up  by 
some  friends  concerned,  on  that  subject;  and  being 
read  several  times  and  corrected,  was  then  signed 
by  such  of  them  as  were  free  to  sign  it,  and  after 
ward  sent  to  the  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings. 

On  the  ninth  day  of  the  eighth  month,  in  the  year 
1757,  at  night,  orders  came  to  the  military  officers 
in  our  county  (Burlington),  directing  them  to  draft 
the  militia,  and  prepare  a  number  of  men  to  go  off 
as  soldiers,  to  the  relief  of  the  English  at  fort 
William  Henry,  in  New  York  government ;  a  few 
days  after  which,  there  was  a  general  review  of  the 
militia  at  Mount  Holly,  and  a  number  of  men 
chosen  and  sent  off  under  some  officers.  Shortly 
after,  there  came  orders  to  draught  three  times  as 
many,  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march 
when  fresh  orders  came.  And,  on  the  seventeenth 
day  of  the  eighth  month,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the 
military  officers  at  Mount  Holly,  who  agreed  on  a 
draught ;  and  orders  were  sent  to  the  men  so 
chosen,  to  meet  their  respective  captains  at  set 
times  and  places ;  those  in  our  township  to  meet  at 


96 

Mount  Holly;  amongst  whom  were  a  considerable 
number  of  our  society.  My  mind  being*  affected 
herewith,  I  had  fresh  opportunity  to  see  and  con 
sider  the  advantage  of  living  in  the  real  substance 
of  religion,,  where  practice  doth  harmonize  with 
principle.  Amongst  the  officers  are  men  of  under 
standing,  who  have  some  regard  to  sincerity  where 
they  see  it ;  and  in  the  execution  of  their  office, 
when  they  have  men  to  deal  with  whom  they  be 
lieve  to  be  upright  hearted,  to  put  them  to  trouble 
on  account  of  scruples  of  conscience,  is  a  painful 
task,  and  likely  to  be  avoided  as  much  as  easily 
maybe.  But  where  men  profess  to  be  so  meek  and 
heavenly-minded,  and  to  have  their  trust  so  firmly 
settled  in  God,  that  they  cannot  join  in  wars;  and 
yet,  by  their  spirit  and  conduct  in  common  life, 
manifest  a  contrary  disposition,  their  difficulties  are 
great  at  such  a  time. 

Officers  in  great  anxiety  endeavouring  to  get 
troops  to  answer  the  demands  of  their  superiors, 
seeing  men,  who  are  insincere,  pretend  scruple  of 
conscience,  in  hopes  of  being  excused  from  a  dan 
gerous  employment,  they  are  likely  to  be  roughly 
handled.  In  this  time  of  commotion  some  of  our 
young  men  left  the  parts,  and  tarried  abroad  till  it 
was  over ;  some  came,  and  proposed  to  go  as  sol 
diers  ;  others  appeared  to  have  a  real  tender  scruple 
in  their  minds  against  joining  in  wars,  and  were 
much  humbled  under  the  apprehension  of  a  trial 
so  near.  I  had  conversation  with  several  of  them 
to  my  satisfaction.  At  the  set  time  when  the 
captain  came  to  town,  some  of  those  last  mentioned 


97 

went  and  told  him  in  substance  as  follows  : — That 
they  could  not  bear  arms  for  conscience  sake ;  nor 
could  they  hire  any  to  go  in  their  places,,  being  re 
signed  as  to  the  event  of  it.  At  length  the  captain 
acquainted  them  all,  that  they  might  return  home 
for  the  present,  and  required  them  to  provide  them 
selves  as  soldiers,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  march 
\vhen  called  upo«'>  This  was  such  a  time  as  I  had 
not  seen  before  ;  and  yet  I  may  say,  with  thank 
fulness  to  the  Lord,  that  I  believed  this  trial  was 
intended  for  our  good  ;  and  I  was  favoured  with 
resignation  to  Him.  The  French  army  taking  the 
fort  they  were  besieging,  destroyed  it  and  went 
away ;  the  company  of  men  first  draughted,  after 
some  days  march,  had  orders  to  return  home ;  and 
those  on  the  second  draught,  were  no  more  called 
upon  on  that  occasion. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  the  fourth  month,  in  the 
year  1758,  orders  came  to  some  officers,,  in  Mount 
Holly,  to  prepare  quarters,  a  short  time,  for  about 
one  hundred  soldiers.  And  an  officer  arid  two 
other  men,  all  inhabitants  of  our  town,  came  to  my 
house  ;  and  the  officer  told  me,  that  he  came  to 
speak  with  me,  to  provide  lodging  and  entertain 
ment  for  two  soldiers,  there  being  six  shillings  a 
week  per  man  allowed  as  pay  for  it.  The  case 
being  new  and  unexpected,  I  made  no  answer 
suddenly ;  but  sat  a  time  silent,  my  mind  being 
inward.  I  was  fully  convinced,  that  the  proceed 
ings  in  wars  are  inconsistent  with  the  purity  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  and  to  be  hired  to  entertain, 
men,  who  were  then  under  pay  as  soldiers,  was  a 


98 

difficulty  with  me.  I  expected  they  had  legal 
authority  for  what  they  did ;  and,  after  a  short  time, 
I  said  to  the  officer,,  if  the  men  are  sent  here  for 
entertainment,,  I  believe  I  shall  not  refuse  to  admit 
them  into  my  house;  but  the  nature  of  the  case  is 
such,  that  I  expect  I  cannot  keep  them  on  hire  : 
one  of  the  men  intimated,  that  he  thought  I  might 
do  it  consistent  with  my  religious  principles.  To 
which  I  made  no  reply ;  as  believing  silence,  at 
that  time,  best  for  me.  Though  they  spake  of  two, 
there  came  only  one,  who  tarried  at  my  house 
about  two  weeks,  and  behaved  himself  civilly ;  and 
when  the  officer  came  to  pay  me,  I  told  him  I  could 
not  take  pay  for  it,  having  admitted  him  into  my 
house  in  a  passive  obedience  to  authority.  I  was 
on  horseback  when  he  spake  to  me ;  and  as  I 
turned  from  him,  he  said,  he  was  obliged  to  me  ; 
to  which  I  said  nothing:  but  thinking  on  the  ex 
pression,  I  grew  uneasy ;  and,  afterwards,  being 
near  where  he  lived,  I  went  and  told  him  on 
what  grounds  I  refused  taking  pay  for  keeping  the 
soldier. 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  year  1758,  I  went  one 
evening,  in  company  with  a  friend,  to  visit  a  sick 
person ;  and  before  our  return,  we  were  told  of  a 
woman  living  near,  who  of  late,  had  several  days 
been  disconsolate,  occasioned  by  a  dream;  wherein 
death,  and  the  judgments  of  the  Almighty  after 
death,  were  represented  to  her  mind  in  a  moving 
manner.  Her  sadness  on  that  account,  being  worn 
off;  the  friend,  with  whom  I  was  in  company,  wew.t 
to  see  her,  and  had  some  religious  conversation 


99 

with  her  and  her  husband.  With  this  visit  they  were 
somewhat  affected  ;  and  the  man,  with  many  tears., 
expressed  his  satisfaction ;  arid,  in  a  short  time  after,, 
the  poor  man  being  on  the  river  in  a  storm  of  wind, 
he,  with  one  more,  was  drowned. 

In  the  eighth  month  of  the  year  1758,  having  had 
drawings  in  my  mind  to  be  at  the  quarterly  meet 
ing  in  Chester  county,  and  at  some  meetings  in 
the  county  of  Philadelphia,  I  went  first  to  said 
quarterly  meeting,  which  was  large ;  and  several 
weighty  matters  came  under  consideration  and 
debate  ;  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  qualify  some 

of  his  servants  with  strength  and  firmness,  to  bear 

o  * 

the  burden  of  the  day.  Though  I  said  but  little,  my 
mind  was  deeply  exercised ;  and,  under  a  sense  of 
God's  love,  in  the  anointing  and  fitting  some  young 
men  for  his  work,  I  was  comforted,  and  my  heart 
was  tendered  before  Him.  From  hence  I  went 
to  the  youth's  meeting  at  Darby,  where  my  be 
loved  friend  and  brother  Benjamin  Jones  met  me, 
by  an  appointment  before  I  left  home,  to  join 
in  the  visit.  And  we  were  at  Radnor,  Merion, 
Richland,  North  Wales,  Plymouth,  and  Abington 
meetings ;  and  had  cause  to  bow  iri  reverence 
before  the  Lord,  our  gracious  God,  by  whose  help 
way  was  opened  for  us  from  day  to  day.  I  was 
out  about  two  weeks,  and  rode  about  two  hundred 
miles. 

The  monthly  meeting  of  Philadelphia  having 
been  under  a  concern,  on  account  of  some  friends, 
who  this  summer  (1758)  had  bought  negro  slaves : 

G  2 


100 

the  said  meeting  moved  it  to  their  quarterly  meet 
ing,    to   have    their   minute    reconsidered    in    the 
yearly  meeting,  which  was  made  last  on  that  sub 
ject ;  and  the  said  quarterly  meeting  appointed  a 
committee   to  consider  it,,  and  to  report  to   their 
next :  which  committee  having  met  once  and  ad 
journed.,   and  I  going  to    Philadelphia  to   meet,  a 
committee  of  the  yearly  meeting,  was  in  town  the 
evening   on  which    the    quarterly    meeting's  com 
mittee  met  the  second  time;    and  finding  an   in 
clination  to  sit  with  them,  was,  with  some  others, 
admitted  ;    and  friends  had  a   weighty  conference 
on   the  subject.      Soon  after  their  next  quarterly 
meeting,  I  heard  that  the  case  was  coming  to  our 
yearly  meeting ;    which  brought  a  weighty  exer 
cise  upon  me,,  and  under  a  sense  of  my  own  in 
firmities,  and   the  great   danger  I  felt  of  turning 
aside  from  perfect  purity.,  my  mind  was  often  drawn 
to  retire  alone,  and  put  up  rny  prayers  to*  the  Lord, 
that  He  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  strengthen 
rne  ;  that  setting  aside  all  views  of  self-interest  and 
the  friendship  of  this  world,  I  might  stand  fully  re 
signed  to  his  holy  will. 

In  this  yearly  meeting,  several  weighty  matters 
were  considered  ;  and  toward  the  last,  that  in  re 
lation  to  dealing  with  persons  who  purchase  slaves. 
During  the  several  sittings  of  the  said  meeting,  my 
mind  was  frequently  covered  with  inward  prayer; 
and  I  could  say  with  David,  <f  that  tears  were  rny 
meat  day  and  night/'  The  case  of  slave-keeping 
lay  heavy  upon  rne;  nor  did  I  find  any  engagement 


101 

to  speak  directly  to  any  other  matter  before  the 
meeting.  Now  when  this  case  was  opened,  several 
faithful  friends  spake  weightily  thereto,  with  which 
I  was  comforted  ;  and  feeling-  a  concern  to  cast  in 
my  mite,,  I  said,,  in  substance,,  as  follows : 

"  In  the  difficulties  attending  us  in  this  life, 
nothing  is  more  precious  than  the  mind  of  truth 
inwardly  manifested;  and  it  is  my  earnest  desire, 
that  in  this  weighty  matter,  we  may  be  so  truly 
humbled  as  to  be  favoured  with  a  clear  understand 
ing  of  the  mind  of  truth,,  and  follow  it;  this  would 
be  of  more  advantage  to  the  society,  than  any 
medium  not  in  the  clearness  of  divine  wisdom. 
The  case  is  difficult  to  some  who  have  them  ;  but 
if  such  set  aside  all  self-interest,  and  come  to  be 
Aveaned  from  the  desire  of  getting  estates,  or  even 
from  holding  them  together,  when  truth  requires  the 
contrary,  I  believe  way  will  open  that  they  will  know 
how  to  steer  through  those  difficulties." 

Many  friends  appeared  to  be  deeply  bowed 
under  the  weight  of  the  work ;  and  manifested 
much  firmness  in  their  love  to  the  cause  of  truth, 
and  universal  righteousness  on  the  earth.  And 
though  none  did  openly  justify  the  practice  of 
slave-keeping  in  general,  yet  some  appeared  con 
cerned,  lest  the  meeting  should  go  into  such  mea 
sures,  as  might  give  uneasiness  to  many  brethren  ; 
alledging,  that  if  friends  patiently  continued  under 
the  exercise,  the  Lord,  in  time  to  come,  might  open 
a  way  for  the  deliverance  of  these  people ;  and  I 
finding  an  engagement  to  speak,  said,  "  My  mind 


102 

is  often  led  to  consider  the  purity  of  the  Divine 
Being,  and  the  justice  of  his  judgments ;  and 
herein  my  soul  is  covered  with  awfulness.  I  can 
not  omit  to  hint  of  some  cases,  where  people  have 
not  been  treated  with  the  purity  of  justice,  and  the 
event  hath  been  lamentable.  Many  slaves  on  this 
continent  are  oppressed,  and  their  cries  have 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Most  High.  Such  are  the 
purity  and  certainty  of  his  judgments,  that  He  can 
not  be  partial  in  our  favour.  In  infinite  love  and 
goodness,  He  hath  opened  our  understandings  from 
one  time  to  another,  concerning  our  duty  towards 
this  people;  and  it  is  not  a  time  for  delay.  Should 
we  now  be  sensible  of  what  He  requires  of  us,  and 
through  a  respect  to  the  private  interest  of  some 
persons,  or  through  a  regard  to  some  friendships 
which  do  not  stand  on  an  immutable  foundation, 
neglect  to  do  our  duty  in  firmness  and  constancy, 
still  waiting  for  some  extraordinary  means  to  bring 
about  their  deliverance ;  it  may  be  by  terrible 
things  in  righteousness,  God  may  answer  us  in  this 
matter/' 

Many  faithful  brethren  laboured  with  great 
firmness ;  and  the  love  of  truth,  in  a  good  degree, 
prevailed.  Several  friends,  who  had  negroes,  ex 
pressed  their  desire  that  a  rule  might  be  made,  to 
deal  with  such  friends  as  oilenders  who  bought 
slaves  in  future.  To  this  it  was  answered,  that 
the  root  of  this  evil  would  never  be  effectually 
struck  at,  until  a  thorough  search  was  made  into 
the  circumstances  of  such  friends  as  kept  negroes, 


103 

with  respect  to  the  righteousness  of  their  motives 
in  keeping  them,  that  impartial  justice  might  be 
administered  throughout.  Several  friends  expressed 
their  desire,  that  a  visit  might  be  made  to  such 
friends  as  kept  slaves  :  and  many  friends  said, 
that  they  believed  liberty  was  the  negroes  right ;  to 
which,,  at  length,,  no  opposition  was  made  publicly. 
A  minute  was  made  more  full  on  that  subject,  than 
any  heretofore ;  and  the  names  of  several  friends 
entered,  who  were  free  to  join  in  a  visit  to  such  as 
kept  slaves. 


104 


CHAP.  VI. 

His  visiting  the  quarterly  meetings  in  Chester 
county;  and  afterwards  joining  with  Daniel 
Stanton  and  John  Scarborough,  in  a  visit  to  such 
as  kept  slaves  there. — Some  observations  on  the 
conduct  such  should  maintain  who  are  concerned 
to  speak  in  meetings  for  discipline. — Several  more 
visits  to  such  as  kept  slaves  ;  and  to  friends  near 
Salem. — Some  account  of  the  yearly  meeting  in 
the  year  1759,,  and  of  the  increasing  concern  in 
divers  provinces,  to  labour  against  buying  and 
keeping  slaves. —  The  yearly  meeting  epistle. — 
His  thoughts  on  the  small-pox  spreading — and  on 
inoculation. 


ON  the  eleventh  day  of  the  eleventh  month,  in 
the  year  1758,  I  set  out  for  Concord  ;  the  quarterly 
meeting  heretofore  held  there,  was  now,,  by  reason 
of  a  great  increase  of  members,  divided  into  two  by 
the  agreement  of  friends,  at  our  last  yearly  meeting. 
Here  I  met  with  our  beloved  friends  Samuel 
Spavold  and  Mary  Kirby  from  England,  and  with 
Joseph  White  from  Bucks  county,  who  had  taken 
leave  of  his  family  in  order  to  go  on  a  religious 
visit  to  friends  in  England ;  and,  through  divine 
goodness,  we  were  favoured  with  a  strengthening 
opportunity  together. 


105 

After  this  meeting,,  1  joined  with  my  friends  Daniel 
Stanton  and  John  Scarborough,  in  visiting  friends 
who   had   slaves ;    and  at  night  we  had  a  family 
meeting  at  William  Trimble's,  many  young  people 
being  there  ;  and  it  was  a  precious,  reviving  oppor- 
tuaity.     Next  morning  we  had  a  comfortable  sitting 
with  a  sick  neighbour ;  and  thence  to  the  burial  of 
the  corpse  of  a  friend  at  Uwchland  meeting,  at  which 
were   many  people,   and  it  was  a  time  of  divine 
favour,  after  which,  we  visited  some  who  had  slaves; 
and,  at  night,  had  a  family  meeting  at  a  friend's 
house,  where  the  channel  of  gospel  love  was  opened, 
and  my  mind  was  comforted  after  a   hard   day's 
labour.     The  next  day  we  were  at  Goshen  monthly 
meeting;  and  thence,  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  the 
eleventh    month,  in    the  year  1758,    attended  the 
quarterly  meeting  at  London  Grove,  it  being  the 
first  held  at  that  place.     Here  we  met  again  with 
all   the    before-mentioned   friends,    and   had  some 
edifying  meetings.     And  near  the  conclusion  of  the 
meeting  for  business,  friends  were  incited  to  con 
stancy  in  supporting  the  testimony  of  truth,  and  re 
minded  of  the  necessity  which  the  disciples  of  Christ 
are  under  to  attend  principally  to  his  business,  as 
he  is  pleased  to  open  it  to  us ;  and  to  be  particularly 
careful  to  have  our  minds  redeemed  from  the  love 
of  wealth;  to  have  our  outward  affairs  in  as  little 
room  as  may  be ;  that  no  temporal  concerns  may 
entangle  our  affections,  or  hinder  us  from  diligently 
following  the  dictates  of  truth,  in  labouring  to  pro 
mote  the   pure  spirit  of  meekness  and  heaven ly- 
mindedness  amongst  the  children  of  men,  in  these 


100 

days  of  calamity  arid  distress,  wherein  God  is  visit 
ing  our  land  with  his  just  judgments. 

Each  of  these  quarterly  meetings  was  large,  and 
sat  near  eight  hours.  Here  I  had  occasion  to  con 
sider,  that  it  is  a  weighty  thing  to  speak  much  in 
large  meetings  for  business  :  for,  except  our  minds 
are  rightly  prepared,,  and  we  clearly  understand  the 
case  we  speak  to,  instead  of  forwarding,  we  hinder 
business,  and  make  more  labour  for  those  on  whom 
the  burden  of  the  work  is  laid. 

If  selfish  views,  or  a  partial  spirit,  have  any  room 
in  our  minds,  we  are  unfit  for  the  Lord's  work  ;  if 
we  have  a  clear  prospect  of  the  business,  and  proper 
weight  on  our  minds  to  speak,  it  behoves  us  to  avoid 
useless  apologies  and  repetitions.  Where  people 
are  gathered  from  far,  arid  adjourning  a  meeting  of 
business  is  attended  with  great  difficulty,  it  behoves 
all  to  be  cautious  how  they  detain  a  meeting  ; 
especially  when  they  have  sat  six  or  seven  hours, 
and  have  a  great  distance  to  ride  home.  After  this 
meeting  I  rode  home. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  month  of  the  year 
1758,  I  joined  in  company  with  my  friends  John 
Sykes  and  Daniel  Stan  ton  in  visiting  such  as  had 
slaves.  Some,  whose  hearts  were  rightly  exercised 
about  them,  appeared  to  be  glad  of  our  visit;  but 
in  some  places  our  way  was  more  difficult ;  and  I 
often  saw  the  necessity  of  keeping  down  to  that  root 
from  whence  our  concern  proceeded  ;  and  have 
cause,  in  reverent  thankfulness,  humbly  to  bow 
down  before  the  Lord,  who  was  near  to  me,  and 
preserved  my  mind  in  calmness  under  some  sharp 


107 

conflicts,  and  begat  a  spirit  of  sympathy  and  tender 
ness  in  me,  towards  some  who  were  grievously  en 
tangled  by  the  spirit  of  this  world. 

In  the  first  month  of  the  year  1759,  having  found 
my  mind  drawn  to  visit  some  of  the  more  active 
members  in  our  society  at  Philadelphia,  who  had 
slaves,  I  met  my  friend  John  Churchman  there  by 
an  agreement ;  and  we  continued  about  a  week  in 
the  city.  We  visited  some  that  were  sick,  and 
some  widows  and  their  families  ;  and  the  other  part 
of  our  time  was  mostly  employed  in  visiting  such 
who  had  slaves.  It  was  a  time  of  deep  exercise, 
looking  often  to  the  Lord  for  his  assistance ;  who, 
in  unspeakable  kindness,  favoured  us  with  the  in 
fluence  of  that  spirit,  which  crucifies  to  the  great 
ness  and  splendour  of  this  world,  and  enabled  us  to 
go  through  some  heavy  labours,  in  which  we  found 
peace. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  third  month,  of 
this  year,  I  was  at  our  general  spring  meeting  at 
Philadelphia.  After  which,  I  again  joined  with 
John  Churchman  on  a  visit  to  some  more,  who  had 
slaves  in  Philadelphia ;  and,  with  thankfulness  to 
our  heavenly  Father,  1  may  say,  that  divine  love 
and  a  true  sympathizing  tenderness  of  heart,  pre 
vailed  at  times  iri  this  service. 

Having,  at  times,  perceived  a  shyness  in  some 
friends  of  considerable  note,  towards  me,  I  found  an 
engagement  in  gospel  love  to  pay  a  visit  to  one  of 
them  ;  and  as  I  dwelt  under  the  exercise,  I  felt  a, 
resignedness  in  my  mind  to  go.  So  I  went,  ancj 
told  him  in  private,  I  hud  a  desire  to  1m ve  an 


108 

opportunity  with  him  alone ;  to  which  he  readily 
agreed  :  and  then,  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  thing's 
relating  to  that  shyness  were  searched  to  the  bot 
tom  ;  and  we  had  a  large  conference,,  which,  I  be 
lieve,,  was  of  use  to  both  of  us;  and  am  thankful 
that  way  was  opened  for  it. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  in  the 
same  year,  having  felt  drawings  in  my  mind  to  visit 
friends  about  Salem,  and  having  the  approbation  of 
our  monthly  meeting  therein,  I  attended  their  quar 
terly  meeting,  and  was  out  seven  days,  and  at  seven 
meetings  ;  in  some  of  which  I  was  chiefly  silent,  and 
in  others,  through  the  baptizing  power  of  truth,  my 
heart  was  enlarged  in  heavenly  love,  and  found  a 
near  fellowship  with  the  brethren  and  sisters,  in  the 
manifold  trials  attending  their  Christian  progress 
through  this  world. 

In  the  seventh  month,  I  found  an  increasing  con 
cern  on  my  mind  to  visit  some  active  members  in 
our  society  who  had  slaves  ;  and  having  no  oppor 
tunity  of  the  company  of  such  as  were  named  in 
the  minutes  of  the  yearly  meeting,  I  went  alone  to 
their  houses,  and,  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  acquainted 
them  with  the  exercise  I  was  under :  and  thus, 
sometimes,  by  a  few  words,  I  found  myself  dis 
charged  from  a  heavy  burden. 

After  this,  our  friend  John  Churchman  coming 
into  our  province  with  a  view  to  be  at  some  meet 
ings,  and  to  join  again  in  the  visit  to  those  who 
had  slaves  ;  I  bore  him  company  in  the  said  visit 
to  some  active  members,  and  found  inward  satis 
faction. 


109 

At  our  yearly  meeting  hi  the  year  J759,  we  had 
some  weighty  seasons ;  where  the  power  of  truth 
was  largely  extended,  to  the  strengthening  of  the 
honest-minded.  As  friends  read  over  the  epistles, 
to  be  sent  to  the  yearly  meetings  along  this  conti 
nent,,  I  observed  in  most  of  them,  both  this  year 
and  last,  it  was  recommended  to  friends  to  labour 
against  buying  and  keeping  slaves ;  and  in  some  of 
them  closely  treated  upon.  As  this  practice  hath 
long  been  a  heavy  exercise  to  me,  and  I  have  often 
waded  through  mortifying  labours  on  that  account  ; 
and,  at  times,  in  some  meetings  been  almost  alone 
therein  ;  now  observing  the  increasing  concern  in 
our  religious  society,  and  seeing  how  the  Lord  was 
raising  up  and  qualifying  servants  for  his  work,  not 
only  in  this  respect,  but  for  promoting  the  cause  of 
truth  in  general,  I  was  humbly  bowed  in  thankful 
ness  before  Him.  This  meeting  continued  near  a 
week :  and,  for  several  days,  in  the  forepart  of  it, 
my  rnind  was  drawn  into  a  deep,  inward  stillness  ; 
and  being,  at  times,  covered  with  the  spirit  of 
supplication,  my  heart  was  secretly  poured  out  be 
fore  the  Lord.  And  near  the  conclusion  of  the 
meeting  for  business,  way  openeu,  that,  in  the  pure 
flowings  of  divine  love,  1  expressed  what  lay  upon 
me;  which,  as  it  then  arose  in  my  mind,  was 
ef  first  to  show  how  deep  answers  to  deep  in  the 
hearts  of  the  sincere  and  upright;  though,  in  their 
different  growths,  they  may  not  all  have  attained  to 
the  same  clearness  in  some  points  relating  to  our 
testimony.  And  I  was  led  to  mention  the  integrity 
and  constancy  of  many  martyrs,  who  gave  their 


110 

lives  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus:  and  yet,  in  some 
points,   held  doctrines  distinguishable   from   some 
which  we  hold  ;  and  that,  in  all  ages  where  people 
were  faithful  to  the  light  and  understanding  which 
the  Most  High  afforded  them,  they  found  acceptance 
with  Him  ;  and  that  now,  though  there  are  different 
ways  of  thinking  amongst  us  in  some  particulars,  yet, 
if  we  mutually  kept  to  that  spirit  and  power  which 
crucifies  to  the  world,  which  teaches  us  to  be  content 
with  things  really  needful  and  to  avoid  all  super 
fluities,  giving  up  our  hearts  to  fear  and  serve  the 
Lord,  true  unity  may  still  be  preserved  amongst  us. 
And  that  if  such,-  who  were,  at  times,  under  suffer 
ings  on   account   of  some  scruples  of  conscience, 
kept  low  and  humble,  and  in  their  conduct  in  life 
manifested  a  spirit  of  true  charity  ;  it  would  be  more 
likely  to  reach  the  witness  in  others,  and  be  of  more 
service  in  the  church,  than  if  their  sufferings  were 
attended  with  a  contrary  spirit  and  conduct/'     In 
which  exercise  I  was  drawn  into  a  sympathizing 
tenderness  with  the  sheep  of  Christ,  however  distin 
guished  one  from  another  in  this  world  ;  and  the 
like  disposition  appeared  to  spread  over  others  in 
the  meeting.     Great  is  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  to 
wards  his  poor  creatures. 

An  epistle  went  forth  from  this  yearly-meeting, 
which  I  think  good  to  give  a  place  in  this  journal  ; 
being  as  follows  : 


Ill 


From  the  yearly  meeting  held  at  Philadelphia,  for 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  from  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  the  ninth  month,  to  the  twenty- 
eighth  day  of  the  same,  inclusive,  1759. 

To  the  quarterly  and  monthly  meetings  of  friends 
belonging  to  the  said  yearly  meeting. 

Dearly  beloved  friends  and  brethren, 

ec  IN  an  awful  sense  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
the  Lord  our  God,  whose  tender  mercies  have  long 
been  continued  to  us  in  this  land,  we  affectionately 
salute  you,  with  sincere  and  ferv7ent  desires,  that 
we  may  reverently  regard  the  dispensations  of  his 
providence,  and  improve  under  them. 

"  The  empires  and  kingdoms  of  the  earth  are 
subject  to  his  Almighty  power.  He  is  the  God  of 
the  spirits  of  all  flesh ;  and  deals  with  his  people 
agreeable  to  that  wisdom,  the  depth  whereof  is  to 
us  unsearchable.  We,  in  these  provinces  may  say, 
He  hath,  as  a  gracious  and  tender  parent,  dealt 
bountifully  with  us,  even  from  the  days  of  our  fa 
thers.  It  was  lie  who  strengthened  them  to  labour 
through  the  difficulties  attending  the  improvement 
of  a  wilderness,  and  made  way  for  them  in  the 
hearts  of  the  natives  ;  so  that  by  them  they  were 
comforted  in  times  of  want  and  distress.  It  was 
by  the  gracious  influences  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  that 
they  were  disposed  to  work  righteousness,  and  walk 
uprightly  one  towards  another,  and  towards  the 
natives,  and  in  life  and  conversation  to  manifest 


112 

the  excellency  of  the  principles  and  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  religion ;  and  thereby  they  retain 
their  esteem  and  friendship.  Whilst  they  were  la 
bouring  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  many  of  them 
were  fervently  engaged  to  promote  piety  and  virtue 
in  the  earth,  and  educate  their  children  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord. 

ff  If  we  carefully  consider  the  peaceable  measures 
pursued  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  land,  and  that 
freedom  from  the  desolations  of  wars,  which  for  a 
longtime  we  enjoyed,  we  shall  find  ourselves  under 
strong  obligations  to  the  Almighty,  who,  when  the 
earth  is  so  generally  polluted  with  wickedness,  gave 
us  a  being  in  a  part  so  signally  favoured  with  tran 
quillity  and  plenty,  and  in  which  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ  are  so  freely  published, 
that  we  may  justly  say  with  the  psalmist,  fc  What 
shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  ?" 

"  Our  own  real  good,  and  the  good  of  our  pos 
terity  in  some  measure  depends  on  the  part  we  act  ; 
and  it  nearly  concerns  us  to  try  our  foundations 
impartially.  Such  are  the  different  rewards  of  the 
just  and  unjust  in  a  future  state,  that  to  attend 
diligently  to  the  dictates  of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  to 
devote  ourselves  to  his  service,  and  engage  fer 
vently  in  his  cause,  during  our  short  stay  in  this 
world,  is  a  choice  well  becoming  a  free  intelligent 
creature.  We  shall  thus  clearly  see  and  consider 
that  the  dealings  of  God  with  mankind  in  a  na 
tional  capacity,  as  recorded  in  holy  writ,  do  suffi 
ciently  evidence  the  truth  of  that  saying,  "  It  is 
righteousness  which  exalteth  a  nation ;"  and  though 


113 

he  cloth  not  at  all  times  suddenly  execute  his  judg 
ments  on  a  sinful  people  in  this  life.,  yet  we  see  by 
many  instances,  that  where  Cf  men  follow  lying 
vanities,,  they  forsake  their  own  mercies  ;"  and  as 
a  proud  selfish  spirit  prevails  and  spreads  among  a 
people,,  so  partial  judgment,  oppression,  discord, 
envy  and  confusions  increase.,  and  provinces  and 
kingdoms  are  made  to  drink  the  cup  of  adversity 
as  a  reward  of  their  own  doings.  Thus  the  in 
spired  prophet,  reasoning  with  the  degenerated 
Jews,  saith,  c<  Thine  own  wickedness  shall  correct 
thee,  and  thy  backslid  ings  shall  reprove  thee  :  know 
therefore,  that  it  is  an  evil  thing  and  bitter,  that 
thou  hast  forsaken  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  that  my 
fear  is  not  in  thee.,  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts." 
Jer.  ii.  19. 

"  The  God  of  our  fathers  who  hath  bestowed  on 
us  many  benefits,  furnished  a  table  for  us  in  the 
wilderness,    and    made    the    deserts  and   solitary 
places  to  rejoice  ;  He  doth  now  mercifully  call  upon 
us  to  serve  Him  more  faithfully  — We  may  truly  say 
with  the  prophet,  "  It  is  his  voice  which  crieth  to 
the  city,  and  men  of  wisdom  see  his  name.     They 
regard  the  rod,  and  Him  who  hath  appointed  it." 
People  who   look  chiefly  at  things   outward,  too 
little  consider  the   original  cause   of  the   present 
troubles ;  but  such  who  fear  the  Lord,  and  think 
often  upon  his  name,  they  see  and  feel  that  a  wrong 
spirit  is  spreading  amongst  the  inhabitants  of  our 
country ;  that  the  hearts  of  many  are  waxed  fat, 
and  their  ears  dull  of  hearing;  that  the  Most  High, 
in  his  visitations  to  us,  instead  of  calling,  lifteth 

H 


114 

up  his  voice  and  crieth  ;  He  crieth  to  our  country, 
and  his  voice  waxeth  louder  and  louder.    In  former 
wars  between  the  English  and  other  nations,  since 
the  settlement  of  our  provinces,  the  calamities  at 
tending-  them  have  fallen  chiefly  on  other  places, 
but  now  of  late  they  have  reached  to  our  borders ; 
many  of  our  fellow  subjects  have  suffered  on  and 
near  our  frontiers,  some  have  been  slain  in  battle, 
some  killed  in  their  houses,  and  some  in  their  fields, 
some  wounded  and  left  in  great  misery,  and  others 
separated  from  their  wives  and  little  children,  who 
have  been  carried  captives  among  the  Indians.  We 
have  seen  men  and  women  who  have  been  witnesses 
of  these  scenes  of  sorrow,  arid  being  reduced  to 
want,  have  come  to  our  houses  asking  relief. — It 
is  not  long  since  it  was  the  case  of  many  young 
men  in  one  of  these  provinces  to  be  draughted,  in 
order  to  be  taken  as  soldiers ;  some  were  at  that 
time  in  great  distress,  and  had  occasion  to  consider 
that  their  lives  had  been  too  little  conformable  to 
the  purity  and  spirituality  of  that  religion  which  we 
profess,  and  found  themselves  too  little  acquainted 
with  that  inward  humility,  in  which  true  fortitude 
to  endure  hardness  for  the  truth's  sake  is  experien 
ced. — Many  parents  were  concerned  for  their  chil 
dren,  and  in  that  time  of  trial  were  led  to  consider 
that  their  care  to  get  outward  treasure  for  them, 
had  been   greater  than  their  care  for  their  settle 
ment  in  that  religion  which  crucifieth  to  the  world, 
and  enableth  to  bear  a  clear  testimony  to  the  peace 
able  government  of  the  Messiah.    These  troubles 
are  removed,  and  for  a  time  we  are  released  from 
them. 


115 

"  Let  us  not  forget  that  '  The  Most  High  hath 
his  way  in  the  deep,  in  clouds  arid  in  thick  dark 
ness' — that  it  is  his  voice  which  crieth  to  the  city 
and  to  the  country ;  and  oh !  that  these  loud  and 
awakening  cries,  may  have  a  proper  effect  upon  us, 
that  heavier  chastisement  may  not  become  neces 
sary  !  For,  though  things,  as  to  the  outward,  may 
for  a  short  time,  afford  a  pleasing  prospect ;  yet, 
while  a  selfish  spirit,  that  is  not  subject  to  the  cross 
of  Christ,  continueth  to  spread  and  prevail,  there 
can  be  no  long  continuance  in  outward  peace  and 
tranquillity.  If  we  desire  an  inheritance  incorrup 
tible,  and  to  be  at  rest  in  that  state  of  peace  and 
happiness,  which  ever  continues ;  if  we  desire  in 
this  life  to  dwell  under  the  favour  and  protection  of 
that  Almighty  Being,  whose  habitation  is  in  holi 
ness,  whose  ways  are  all  equal,  and  whose  anger  is 
now  kindled,  because  of  our  backslidings  ;  let  us 
then  awfully  regard  these  beginnings  of  his  sore 
judgments,  and  with  abasement  and  humiliation 
turn  to  Him,  whom  we  have  offended. 

"  Contending  with  one  equal  in  strength,  is  an 
uneasy  exercise ;  but  if  the  Lord  is  become  our 
enemy,  if  we  persist  to  contend  with  Him  who  is 
Omnipotent,  our  overthrow  will  be  unavoidable. 

<c  Do  we  feel  an  affectionate  regard  to  posterity; 
and  are  we  employed  to  promote  their  happiness? 
Do  our  minds,  in  things  outward,  look  beyond  our 
own  dissolution ;  and  are  we  contriving  for  the 
prosperity  of  our  children  after  us?  Let  us  then, 
like  wise  builders,  lay  the  foundation  deep ;  and 
by  our  constant  uniform  regard  to  an  inward  piety 


and  virtue,  let  them  see  that  we  really  value  it. 
Let  us  labour  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  their 
innocent  minds,  while  young  and  tender,  may  be 
preserved  from  corruptions  ;  that  as  they  advance 
in  age,  they  may  rightly  understand  their  true  in 
terest,  may  consider  the  uncertainty  of  temporal 
things,  and,  above  all,  have  their  hope  and  confi 
dence  firmly  settled  in  the  blessing  of  that  Al 
mighty  Being,  who  inhabits  eternity,  and  preserves 
and  supports  the  world. 

"  In  all  our  cares  about  worldly  treasures,  let  us 
steadily  bear  in  mind,  that  riches  possessed  by 
children,  who  do  not  truly  serve  God,  are  likely  to 
prove  snares  that  may  more  grievously  entangle 
them  in  that  spirit  of  selfishness  and  exaltation, 
which  stands  in  opposition  to  real  peace  and  hap 
piness  ;  and  renders  those,  enemies  to  the  cross  of 
Christ,  who  submit  to  the  influence  of  it. 

cc  To  keep  a  watchful  eye  towards  real  objects  of 
charity,  to  visit  the  poor  in  their  lonesome  dwelling- 
places,  to  comfort  them  who,  through  the  dispensa 
tions  of  Divine  Providence,  are  in  strait  and  pain 
ful  circumstances  in  this  life,  and  steadily  to  en 
deavour  to  honour  God  with  our  substance,  from  a 
real  sense  of  the  love  of  Christ  influencing  our 
minds  thereto,  is  more  likely  to  bring  a  blessing  to 
our  children,  arid  will  afford  more  satisfaction  to  a 
Christian  favoured  with  plenty,  than  an  earnest 
desire  to  collect  much  wealth  to  leave  behind  us, 
for,  fc  here  we  have  no  continuing  city  ;"  may  we 
therefore  diligently  cc  seek  one  that  is  to  come., 
whose  builder  and  maker  is  God." 


m 

((  Finally,  brethren,  whatsoever  thing's  arc  true, 
whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are 
pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever 
things  are  of  good  report ;  if  there  be  any  virtue, 
if  there  be  any  praise,  think  on  these  things  and  do 
them,  and  the  God  of  peace  shall  be  with  you/' 

Signed  by  appointment,  and  on  behalf  of  our 
said. meeting,  by  seven  friends. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  the  eleventh  month, 
in  the  year  1759,  I  was  at  the  quarterly-meeting  in 
Bucks  county.  This  day  being  the  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders,  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  the 
love  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  the  favour  of  the  Most 
High  was  extended  to  us  in  that  and  the  ensuing 
meeting. 

I  had  conversation,  at  my  lodging,  with  my  be 
loved  friend  Samuel  Eastburn  ;  who  expressed  a 
concern  to  join  in  a  visit  to  some  friends,  in  that 
county,  who  had  negroes ;  and  as  I  had  felt  a 
draught  in  my  mind  to  that  work  in  the  said 
county,  I  came  home  and  put  things  in  order.  On 
the  eleventh  day  of  the  twelfth  month  following  I 
went  over  the  river ;  and  on  the  next  day  was  at 
Buckingham  meeting;  where,  through  the  descend- 
ings  of  heavenly  dew,  my  mind  was  comforted,  and 
drawn  into  a  near  unity  with  the  flock  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

Entering  upon  this  visit  appeared  weighty  :  and 
before  I  left  home  my  mind  \vas  often  sad  ;  under 
which  exercise  I  felt,  at  times,  the  Holy  Spirit  which 
helps  our  infirmities  ;  through  which,  in  private, 


us 

my  prayers  were,  at  times,  put  up  to  God,  that  He 
would  be  pleased  to  purge  me  from  all  selfishness, 
that  I  might  be  strengthened  to  discharge  my  duty 
faithfully,  how  hard  soever  to  the  natural  part.  We 
proceeded  on  the  visit  in  a  weighty  frame  of  spirit, 
and  went  to  the  houses  of  the  most  active  members, 
throughout  the  county,  who  had  negroes ;  and, 
through  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  my  mind  was 
preserved  in  resignation  in  times  of  trial,  and  though 
the  work  was  hard  to  nature,  yet  through  the 
strength  of  that  love  which  is  stronger  than  death,, 
tenderness  of  heart  was  often  felt  amongst  us  in 
our  visits,  and  we  parted  from  several  families  with 
greater  satisfaction  than  we  expected. 

We  visited  Joseph  White's  family,  he  being  in 
England ;  had  also  a  family-sitting  at  the  house  of 
an  elder  who  bore  us  company,  and  was  at  Make- 
field  on  a  first  day.  At  all  which  times,  my  heart  was 
truly  thankful  to  the  Lord,  who  was  graciously 
pleased  to  renew  his  loving  kindness  to  us,  his  poor 
servants,  uniting  us  together  in  his  work. 

In  the  winter  of  this  year,  the  small-pox  being 
in  our  town,  and  many  being  inoculated,  of  whom 
a  few  died,  some  things  were  opened  in  my  mind, 
which  I  wrote  as  follow  : 

The  more  fully  our  lives  are  conformable  to  the 
will  of  God,  the  better  it  is  for  us — I  have  looked 
on  the  small-pox  as  a  messenger  from  the  Almighty, 
to  be  an  assistant  in  the  cause  of  virtue,  and  to  in 
cite  us  to  consider  whether  we  employ  our  time 
only  in  such  things  as  are  consistent  with  perfect 
wisdom  and  goodness. 


119 

Building  houses  suitable  to  dwell  in,  for  ourselves 
and  our  creatures  ;  preparing  clothing  suitable  for 
the  climate  and  season,,  and  food  convenient,  are 
all  duties  incumbent  on  us.  And  under  these  ge 
neral  heads,  are  many  branches  of  business,  in 
which  we  may  venture  health  and  life,  as  necessity 
may  require. 

This  disease  being  in  a  house,  and  my  business 
calling  me  to  go  near  it,  it  incites  me  to  think, 
whether  this  business  is  a  real,  indispensable,  duty  ; 
whether  it  is  not  in  conformity  to  some  custom, 
which  would  be  better  laid  aside ;  or,  whether  it 
does  not  proceed  from  too  eager  a  pursuit  after 
some  outward  treasure.  If  the  business  before  me 
springs  not  from  a  clear  understanding,  and  a  re 
gard  to  that  use  of  things  which  perfect  wisdom 
approves;  to  be  brought  to  a  sense  of  it,  and  stop 
ped  in  my  pursuit,  is  a  kindness  ;  for  when  I  pro 
ceed  to  business  without  some  evidence  of  duty,  I 
have  found,  by  experience,  that  it  tends  to  weak 
ness. 

If  I  am  so  situated  that  there  appears  no  pro 
bability  of  missing  the  infection,  it  tends  to  make 
me  think,  whether  my  manner  of  life,  in  things  out 
ward,  has  nothing  in  it  which  may  unfit  my  body 
to  receive  this  messenger  in  a  way  the  most  favour 
able  to  me.  Do  I  use  food  and  drink  in  no  other 
sort,  and  in  no  other  degree,  than  was  designed  by 
Him,  who  gave  these  creatures  for  our  sustenance  ? 
Do  I  never  abuse  my  body  by  inordinate  labour, 
striving  to  accomplish  some  end  which  I  have  un 
wisely  proposed?  Do  I  use  action  enough  in  some 


120 

useful  employ  I  Or,  do  I  sit  too  much  idle,  while 
some  persons,,  who  labour  to  support  me,  have  too 
great  a  share  of  it?  If,  in  any  of  these  things,  I  am 
deficient,,  to  be  incited  to  consider  it,  is  a  favour  to 
me. 

There  is  employ  necessary  in  social  life ;  and  this 
infection,  which  often  proves  mortal,  incites  me  to 
think,  whether  these  social  acts  of  mine  are  real 
duties.     If  I  go  on  a  visit  to  the  widows  and  father 
less,  do  I  go  purely  on  a  principle  of  charity,  free 
from  any  selfish  views  ?     If  I  go  to  a  religious  meet 
ing,  it  puts  me  on  thinking,  whether  I  go  in  sin 
cerity  and  in  a  clear  sense  of  duty ;  or  whether  it  is 
not  partly  in  conformity  to  custom,  or  partly  from 
a  sensible  delight  which  my  animal  spirits  feel  in 
the  company  of  other  people  ;  and  whether  to  sup 
port  my  reputation  as  a  religious  man,  has  no  share 
in  it. 

Do  affairs,  relating  to  civil  society,  call  me  near 
this  infection?  If  I  go,  it  is  at  the  hazard  of  my 
health  and  life ;  and  it  becomes  me  to  think  se 
riously,  whether  love  to  truth,  and  righteousness  is 
the  motive  of  my  attending ;  whether  the  manner  of 
proceeding,  is  altogether  equitable;  or  whether 
aught  of  narrowness,  party  interest,  respect  to  out 
ward  dignities,  names,  or  distinctions  among  men, 
do  not  stain  the  beauty  of  those  assemblies,  and 
render  it  doubtful,  in  point  of  duty,  whether  a  dis 
ciple  of  Christ  ought  to  attend  as  a  member  united 
to  the  body  or  not. 

Whenever  there  are  blemishes,  wrhich,  for  a  series 
of  time,  remain  such;   that  which  is  a  means  of 


m 

stirring  us  up  to  look  attentively  on  these  blemishes,, 
and  to  labour  according  to  our  capacities,  to  have 
health  and  soundness  restored  in  our  country,  we 
may  justly  account  a  kindness  from  our  gracious 
Father,  who  appointed  that  means. 

The  care  of  a  wise  and  good  man  for  his  only 
son,  is  inferior  to  the  regard  of  the  great  Parent  of 
the  universe  for  his  creatures.  He  hath  the  com 
mand  of  all  the  powers  and  operations  in  nature; 
and  "  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve  the 
children  of  men."  Chastisement  is  intended  for  in 
struction,  and  instruction  being  received-  by  gentle 
chastisement,  greater  calamities  are  prevented. 

By  an  earthquake,  hundreds  of  houses  are  some 
times  shaken  down  in  a  few  minutes,  and  multitudes 
of  people  perish  suddenly;  and  many  more  being 
crushed  and  bruised  in  the  ruins  of  the  buildings, 
pine  away  and  die  in  great  misery. 

By  the  breaking  in  of  enraged  merciless  armies, 
flourishing  countries  have  been  laid  waste,  and 
great  numbers  of  people  perished  in  a  short  time, 
and  many  more  pressed  with  poverty  and  grief. 

By  the  pestilence,  people  have  died  so  fast  in  a 
city,  that  through  fear,  grief,  and  confusion,  those  in 
health  have  found  great  difficulty  in  burying  the 
dead,  even  without  coffins. 

By  famine,  great  numbers  of  people  in  some 
places,  have  been  brought  to  the  utmost  distress, 
and  pined  away  for  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Thus,  where  the  kind  invitations,,  and  gentle  chas 
tisements,  of  a  gracious  God  hath  not  been  attended 


122 

to,  his  sore  judgments  have,  at  times,  been  poured 
out  upon  people. 

While  some  rules,  approved  in  civil  society,  and 
conformable  to  human  policy,  so  called,  are  distin 
guishable  from  the  purity  of  truth  and  righteous 
ness;  while  many  professing  truth  are  declining 
from  that  ardent  love  and  heavenly-rnindedness, 
\vhich  was  amongst  the  primitive  followers  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  it  is  a  time  for  us  to  attend  diligently  to  the 
intent  of  every  chastisement,  and  consider  the  most 
deep  and  inward  design  of  them. 

The  most  High  doth  not  often  speak  with  an  out- 
Avard  voice  to  our  outward  ears;  but,  if  we  humbly 
meditate  on  his  perfections,  consider  that  He  is  per 
fect  wisdom  and  goodness,  and  to  afflict  his  crea 
tures  to  no  purpose,,  would  be  utterly  reverse  to  his 
nature,  we  shall  hear  and  understand  his  language, 
both  in  his  gentle  arid  more  heavy  chastisements  ; 
and  take  heed  that  we  do  not,  in  the  wisdom  of  this 
world,  endeavour  to  escape  his  hand  by  means  too 
powerful  for  us. 

Had  He  endowed  men  with  understanding  to 
hinder  the  force  of  this  disease,  by  innocent  means^ 
which  had  never  proved  mortal  nor  hurtful  to  our 
bodies,  such  discovery  might  be  considered  as  the 
period  of  chastisement  by  this  distemper,  where  that 
knowledge  extended.  But  as  life  and  health  are  his 
gifts,  and  not  to  be  disposed  of  in  our  own  wills,  to 
take  upon  us,  when  in  health,  a  distemper,  of  which 
some  die,  requires  great  clearness  of  knowledge, 
that  it  is  our  duty  to  do  so. 


123 


CHAP.  VII. 


His  visit,  in  company  with  Samuel  Eastburn,  to 
Long  Island,  Rhode  Island,  Boston,  fyc.  in  New 
England. — Remarks  on  the  slave  trade  at  New 
port,  and  his  exercise  on  that  account;  also  on 
lotteries. — Some  observations  on  the  island  of 
Nantucket. 


HAVING,  for  some  time  past,  felt  a  sympathy  in 
my  mind  with  friends  eastward,  I  opened  my  con 
cern  in  our  monthly  meeting;  and,  obtaining  a 
certificate,  set  forward  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  the 
fourth  month,  in  the  year  1760,  joining  in  company, 
by  a  previous  agreement,  with  my  beloved  friend 
Samuel  Eastburn.  We  had  meetings  at  Wood- 
bridge,  Rahaway,  and  Plain  field  ;  and  were  at  their 
monthly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  in  Rah 
away.  We  laboured  under  some  discouragement ; 
but,  through  the  invisible  power  of  truth,  our  visit 
was  made  reviving  to  the  lowly-minded,  with  whom 
I  felt  a  near  unity  of  spirit,  being  much  reduced  in 
my  mind.  We  passed  on,  and  visiled  chief  of  the 
meetings  on  Long  Island.  It  was  my  concern,  from 
day  to  day,  to  say  no  more  nor  less  than  what  the 
spirit  of  truth  opened  in  me,  being  jealous  over 
myself,  lest  I  should  speak  any  thing  to  make 
my  testimony  look  agreeable  to  that  mind  in  peo~- 


pie,  which  is  not  in  pure  obedience  to  the  cross  of 
Christ. 

The  spring  of  the  ministry  was  often  low ;  and,, 
through  the  subjecting  power  of  truth,  we  were 
kept  low  with  it ;  and  from  place  to  place,  such 
whose  hearts  were  truly  concerned  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  appeared  to  be  comforted  in  our  labours  ; 
and,  though  it  was  in  general  a  time  of  abasement 
of  the  creature,  yet,  through  his  goodness,  who  is 
a  helper  of  the  poor,  we  had  some  truly  edifying 
seasons  both  in  meetings,  and  in  families  where  we 
tarried  ;  and  sometimes  found  strength  to  labour 
earnestly  with  the  unfaithful,  especially  with  those, 
whose  station  in  families,  or  in  the  society  was  such, 
that  their  example  had  a  powerful  tendency  to  open 
the  way  for  others  to  go  aside  from  the  purity  and 
soundness  of  the  blessed  truth.  At  Jericho,  on 
Long  Island,  I  wrote  home  as  follows : 

24*/z  of  the  kth  month,  1760. 

"  Dearly  beloved  wife, 

"  WE  are  favoured  with  health  ;  have  been  at 
sundry  meetings  in  East  Jersey,  and  on  this  island. 
My  mind  hath  been  much  in  an  inward,  watchful 
frame,  since  I  left  thee,  greatly  desiring  that  our 
proceedings  may  be  singly  in  the  will  of  our  hea 
venly  Father. 

ff  As  the  present  appearance  of  things  is  not 
joyous,  I  have  been  much  shut  up  from  outward 
chearfulness,  remembering  that  promise,  fc  Then 
shalt  Ihou  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord  :"— as  this, 


125 

from  day  to  day,  has  been  revived  in  my  memory,,  I 
have  considered  that  his  internal  presence  on  our 
minds,,  is  a  delight  of  all  ethers  the  most  pure  ;  and 
that  the  honest-hearted  not  only  delight  in  this,  but 
in  the  effect  of  it  upon  them.  He  who  regards  the 
helpless  and  distressed.,  and  reveals  his  love  to  his 
children  under  affliction,  they  delight  in  beholding 
his  benevolence,,  and  feeling  divine  charity  moving 
upon  them.  Of  this  I  may  speak  a  little;  for 
though  since  I  left  you,  I  have  often  found  an  en 
gaging  love  and  affection  towards  thee  and  my 
daughter.,  and  friends  about  home,,  that  going  out 
at  this  time,  when  sickness  is  so  great  amongst  you, 
is  a  trial  upon  me ;  yet  1  often  remember  there  are 
many  widows  and  fatherless,  many  who  have  poor 
tutors,  many  who  have  evil  examples  before  them, 
and  many  whose  minds  are  in  captivity,  for  whose 
sake  my  heart  is,  at  times,  moved  with  compassion; 
that  1  feel  my  mind  resigned  to  leave  you  for  a  sea 
son,  to  exercise  that  gift  which  the  Lord  hath  be 
stowed  on  me ;  which,  though  small,  compared 
with  some,  yet  in  this  I  rejoice,  that  I  feel  love  un 
feigned  towards  my  fellow  creatures.  I  recommend 
you  to  the  Almighty,  who  I  trust  cares  for  you;  and 
under  a  sense  of  his  heavenly  love,  remain, 

ff  Thy  loving  husband, 

i(  J.  W. 
We  crossed  from  the  east  end  of  Long  Island  to 
New  London,  about  thirty  miles,  in  a  large  open 
boat ;  while  we  were  out,  the  wind  rising  high,  the 
waves  several  times  beat  over  us,  that  to  me  it 


appeared  dangerous;  but  my  mind  was,  at  that 
time,  turned  to  Him,  who  made  and  governs  the 
deep,  and  my  life  was  resigned  to  Him  :  and  as  He 
was  mercifully  pleased  to  preserve  us,  I  had  fresh 
occasion  to  consider  every  day,  as  a  day  lent  to  me  ; 
and  felt  a  renewed  engagement  to  devote  my  time, 
and  all  I  had,  to  Him  who  gave  it. 

We  had  five  meetings  in  Narraganset ;  and  went 
thence  to  Newport  on  Rhode  Island.  Our  gracious 
Father  preserved  us  in  an  humble  dependence  on 
him  through  deep  exercises,  that  were  mortifying  to 
the  creaturely  will.  In  several  families  in  the 
country,  where  we  lodged,  I  felt  an  engagement  on 
my  mind  to  have  a  conference  with  them  in  private, 
concerning  their  slaves  ;  and,  through  divine  aid,  I 
was  favoured  to  give  up  thereto.  Though  in  this 
concern,  I  appear  singular  from  many,  whose  ser 
vice  in  travelling,  i  believe,  is  greater  than  mine  ; 
I  do  not  think  hard  of  them  for  omitting  it;  I  do  not 
repine  at  having  so  unpleasant  a  task  assigned  me, 
but  look  with  awfulness  to  Him,  who  appoints  to 
his  servants  their  respective  employments,  and  is 
good  to  all  who  serve  Him  sincerely. 

We  got  to  Newport  in  the  evening ;  and  on  the 
next  day  visited  two  sick  persons,  and  had  comfort 
able  sittings  with  them  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  at 
tended  the  burial  of  a  friend. 

The  next  day  we  were  at  meetings  at  Newport,  in 
the  forenoon  and  afternoon ;  where  the  spring  of  the 
ministry  was  opened,  and  strength  given  to  declare 
the  Word  of  Life  to  the  people. 


1:27 

The  next  day  we  went  on  our  journey  ;  but  the 
great  number  of  slaves  in  these  parts,  and  the  con 
tinuance  of  that  trade  from  thence  to  Guinea.,  made 
deep  impression  on  me ;  and  my  cries  were  often 
put  up  to  my  heavenly  Father  in  secret,  that  He 
would  enable  me  to  discharge  my  duty  faithfully, 
in  such  way  as  He  might  be  pleased  to  point  out 
to  me. 

We  took  Swansea,  Freetown,,  and  Tanton,  in  our 
way  to  Boston  ;  where  also  we  had  a  meeting  ;  our 
exercise  was  deep,  and  the  love  of  truth  prevailed, 
for  which  I  bless  the  Lord. 

We  went  eastward  about  eighty  miles  beyond 
Boston,  taking  meetings,  and  were  in  a  good  degree 
preserved  in  an  humble  dependence  on  that  arm 
which  drew  us  out ;  and,  though  we  had  some  hard 
labour  with  the  disobedient,  laying  things  home  and 
close  to  such  as  were  stout  against  the  truth ;  yet, 
through  the  goodness  of  God,  we  had,  at  times,  to 
partake  of  heavenly  comfort  with  those  who  were 
meek,  and  were  often  favoured  to  part  with  friends 
in  the  nearness  of  true  gospel  fellowship.  We  re 
turned  to  Boston,  and  had  another  comfortable  op 
portunity  with  friends  there ;  and  thence  rode  back 
a  day's  journey  eastward  of  Boston.  Our  guide 
being  a  heavy  man,  and  the  weather  hot,  and  ray 
companion  and  I  considering  it,  expressed  our  free 
dom  to  go  on  without  him,  to  which  he  consented, 
and  we  respectfully  took  our  leave  of  him  ;  this  we 
did,  as  believing  the  journey  would  have  been  hard 
to  him  and  his  horse. 


128 

We  visited  the  meetings  iu  those  parts,  and  were 
^measurably  baptized  into  a  feeling-  of  the  state  of 
the  society  ;  and  in  bowedness  of  spirit  went  to  the 
yearly  meeting  at  Newport ;  where  I  understood 
that  a  large  number  of  slaves  was  imported  from 
Africa  into  that  town,  and  then  on  sale  by  a  mem 
ber  of  our  society.  At  this  meeting  we  met  with 
John  Storer  from  England,  Elizabeth  Shipley,  Ann 
Gaunt,  Hannah  Foster,  and  Mercy  Redman,  from 
our  parts,  all  ministers  of  the  gospel,  of  whose  com 
pany  I  was  glad. 

At  this  time  my  appetite  failed,  and  I  grew  out 
wardly  weak,  and  had  a  feeling  of  the  condition  of 
Habakkuk,  as  there  expressed.  tf  When  I  heard, 
my  belly  trembled,  my  lips  quivered,  I  trembled  in 
myself,  that  I  might  rest  in  the  day  of  trouble:"  I 
had  many  cogitations,  and  was  sorely  distressed. 
And  was  desirous  that  friends  might  petition  the 
legislature,  to  use  their  endeavours  to  discourage 
the  future  importation  of  slaves ;  for  I  saw  that  this 
trade  was  a  great  evil,  and  tended  to  multiply 
troubles,  and  bring  distresses  on  the  people  in  those 
parts,  for  whose  welfare  my  heart  was  deeply  con 
cerned. 

But  I  perceived  several  difficulties  in  regard  to 
petitioning;  and  such  was  the  exercise  of  my  mind, 
that  I  had  thought  of  endeavouring  to  get  an  op 
portunity  to  speak  a  few  words  in  the  House  of  As 
sembly,  then  sitting  in  town. 

This  exercise  came  upon  me  in  the  afternoon,  on 
the  second  day  of  the  yearly  meeting,  and  going  to 


129 

bed,  I  got  no  sleep  till  my  mind  was  wholly  resigned 
therein;  and  in  the  morning  I  enquired  of  a  friend 
how  long  the  Assembly  was  likely  to  continue 
sitting;  who  told  me,  it  was  expected  to  be  pro 
rogued  that  day  or  the  next. 

As  I  was  desirous  to  attend  the  business  of  the 
meeting,  and  perceived  the  Assembly  were  likely 
to  depart  before  the  business  was  over ;  after  con 
siderable  exercise,  humbly  seeking  to  the  Lord  for 
instruction,  my  mind  settled  to  attend  on  the  busi 
ness  of  the  meeting ;  on  the  last  day  of  which, 
I  had  prepared  a  short  essay  of  a  petition  to  be  pre 
sented  to  the  legislature,  if  way  opened.  And  being 
informed  that  there  were  some  appointed,  by  that 
yearly  meeting,  to  speak  with  those  in  authority,  in 
cases  relating  to  the  society,  I  opened  my  mind  to 
several  of  them,  and  shewed  them  the  essay  I  had 
made  ;  and  afterwards  opened  the  case  in  the  meet 
ing  for  business,  in  substance  as  follows  : 

(C  I  have  been  under  a  concern  for  some  time,  on 
account  of  the  great  number  of  slaves  which  are 
imported  into  this  colony ;  I  am  aware  that  it  is  a 
tender  point  to  speak  to,  but  apprehend  I  am  not 
clear  in  the  sight  of  heaven,  without  speaking  to  it. 
I  have  prepared  an  essay  of  a  petition,  if  way  open, 
to  be  presented  to  the  legislature ;  and  what  I  have 
to  propose  to  this  meeting  is,  that  some  friends  may 
be  named  to  withdraw  and  look  over  it,  and  report 
whether  they  believe  it  suitable  to  be  read  in  the 
meeting.  If  they  should  think  well  of  reading  it, 
it  will  remain  for  the  meeting,  after  hearing  it,  to 
consider,  whether  to  take  any  further  notice  of  it, 

i 


130 

as  a  meeting  or  not."     After  a  short  conference 
some  friends  went  out,  and  looking  over  it,   ex^ 
pressed  their  willingness  to  have  it  read  ;    which 
being  done,  many  expressed   their  unity  with  the 
proposal ;    and    some  signified,  that  to  have   the 
subjects  of  the  petition  enlarged  upon,,  and  to  be 
signed  out  of  meeting  by  such  as  were  free,  would 
be  more  suitable  than  to  do  it  there.     Though  I 
expected  at  first,  that  if  it  was  done  it  would  be  in 
that  way ;  yet  such  was  the  exercise  of  my  mind,, 
that  to  move  it  in  the  hearing  of  friends  when  as 
sembled,  appeared  to  me  as  a  duty  ;    for  my  heart 
yearned   towards  the   inhabitants   of  these  parts  ; 
believing  that  by  this  trade  there  had  been  an  in 
crease  of  incjuietude  amongst   them,    and  a  way 
made  easy  for  the  spreading  of  a  spirit  opposite  to 
that  meekness  and  humility,  which  is  a  sure  resting 
place  for  the  soul.     And  that  the  continuance  of 
this  trade,  would  not  only  render  their  healing  more 
difficult,  but  increase  their  malady. 

Having  thus  far  proceeded,  I  felt  easy  to  leave 
the  essay  amongst  friends,  for  them  to  proceed  in 
it  as  they  believed  best.  And  now  an  exercise 
revived  on  my  mind  in  relation  to  lotteries,  which 
were  common  in  those  parts.  I  had  once  moved 
it  in  a  former  sitting  of  this  meeting,  when  argu 
ments  were  used  in  favour  of  friends  being  held 
excused,  who  were  only  concerned  in  such  lotteries 
as  wrere  agreeable  to  law.  And  now  on  moving 
it  again,  it  was  opposed  as  before  ;  but  the  hearts 
of  some  solid  friends  appeared  to  be  united  to 
discourage  the  practice  amongst  their  members; 


131 

and  the  matter  was  zealously  handled  by  some  on 
both  sides.  In  this  debate  it  appeared  very  clear 
to  me,  that  the  spirit  of  lotteries  was  a  spirit  of 
selfishness,  which  tended  to  confusion  and  dark 
ness  of  understanding  ;  and  that  pleading  for  it  in 
our  meetings,  set  apart  for  the  Lord's  work,  was 
not  right ;  and  in  the  heat  of  zeal,  I  once  made 
reply  to  what  an  ancient  friend  said,  which  when 
I  sat  down,  I  saw  that  my  words  were  not  enough 
seasoned  with  charity  ;  and  after  this,  I  spoke  no 
more  on  the  subject.  At  length  a  minute  was 
made ;  a  copy  of  which  was  agreed  to  be  sent  to 
their  several  quarterly  meetings,  inciting  friends  to 
labour  to  discourage  the  practice  amongst  all  pro 
fessing  with  us. 

Some  time  after  this  minute  was  made,  I  re 
maining  uneasy  with  the  manner  of  my  speaking 
to  the  ancient  friend,  could  not  see  my  way  clear 
to  conceal  my  uneasiness,  but  was  concerned  that 
I  might  say  nothing  to  weaken  the  cause  in  which 
I  had  laboured ;  and  then,  after  some  close 
exercise  and  hearty  repentance,  for  that  I  had  not 
attended  closely  to  the  safe  guide,  I  stood  up,  arid 
reciting  the  passage,  acquainted  friends,  that 
though  1  dare  not  go  from  what  I  had  said  as 
to  the  matter,  yet  I  was  uneasy  with  the  manner 
of  my  speaking,  as  believing  milder  language 
would  have  been  better.  As  this  was  uttered 
in  some  degree  of  creaturely  abasement,  it  ap 
peared  to  have  a  good  savor  amongst  us,  after  a 
warm  debate. 


isa 

The  yearly  meeting  being  now  over,  there  yet 
remained  on  my  mind  a  secret,  though  heavy 
exercise,  in  regard  to  some  leading  active  members 
about  Newport,  being  in  the  practice  of  slave- 
keeping.  This  I  mentioned  to  two  ancient  friends, 
who  came  out  of  the  country,  and  proposed  to 
them,  if  way  opened,  to  have  some  conversation 
with  those  friends.  And  thereupon,  one  of  those 
country  friends  and  I,  consulted  one  of  the  most 
noted  elders  who  had  slaves ;  arid  he,  in  a  respect 
ful  manner,  encouraged  me  to  proceed  to  clear 
myself  of  what  lay  upon  me.  Now  I  had,  near  the 
beginning  of  the  yearly  meeting,  a  private  con 
ference  with  this  said  elder  and  his  wife,  concerning 
theirs ;  so  that  the  way  seemed  clear  to  me,  to 
advise  with  him  about  the  manner  of  proceeding. 
I  told  him,  I  was  free  to  have  a  conference  with 
them  all  together  in  a  private  house  ;  or  if  he 
thought  they  would  take  it  unkind  to  be  asked  to 
come  together,  and  to  be  spoken  with  in  the  hear 
ing  of  one  another,  I  was  free  to  spend  some  time 
among  them,  and  visit  them  all  in  their  own  houses, 
lie  expressed  his  liking  to  the  first  proposal,  not 
doubting  their  willingness  to  come  together;  and 
as  I  proposed  a  visit  to  only  ministers,  elders,  and 
overseers ;  he  named  some  others,  whom  he  de 
sired  might  be  present  also.  And  as  a  careful 
messenger  was  wanted  to  acquaint  them  in  a  pro 
per  manner,  he  offered  to  go  to  all  their  houses  to 
open  the  matter  to  them  ;  and  did  so.  About  the 
eighth  hour  the  next  morning,  we  met  in  the 


133 

meeting-house  chamber,  and  the  last-mentioned 
country  friend,  also  my  companion,  and  John 
Storer,  with  us,  when,  after  a  short  time  of  retire 
ment,  1  acquainted  them  with  the  steps  I  had  taken 
in  procuring  that  meeting,  and  opened  the  concern 
I  was  under,  and  so  we  proceeded  to  a  free  con 
ference  upon  the  subject.  My  exercise  was  heavy, 
and  I  was  deeply  bowed  in  spirit  before  the  Lord> 
who  was  pleased  to  favour  with  the  seasoning 
virtue  of  truth,  which  wrought  a  tenderness  amongst 
us  ;  and  the  subject  was  mutually  handled  in  a 
calm  and  peaceable  spirit.  And,  at  length,  feel 
ing  my  mind  released  from  that  burden  which  I 
had  been  under,  I  took  my  leave  of  them,  in  a 
good  degree  of  satisfaction ;  and  by  the  tender 
ness  they  manifested  in  regard  to  the  practice, 
and  the  concern  several  of  them  expressed  in 
relation  to  the  manner  of  disposing  of  their  negroes 
after  their  decease,  I  believed  that  a  good  exer 
cise  was  spreading  amongst  them  ;  and  I  am 
humbly  thankful  to  God,  who  supported  my  mind, 
and  preserved  rne  in  a  good  degree  of  resignation 
through  these  trials. 

Thou,  who  sometimes  travellest  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  art  made  very  welcome  by  thy 
friends,  seest  many  tokens  of  their  satisfaction,  in 
having  thee  for  their  guest.  It  is  good  for  thee  to 
dwell  deep,  that  thou  mayest  feel  and  understand 
the  spirits  of  people.  It  we  believe  truth  points 
towards  a  conference  on  some  subjects,  in  a  private 
way,  it  is  needful  for  us  to  take  heed  that  their 
kindness,  their  freedom  and  affability,  do  not  hinder 


us  from  the  Lord's  work.  I  have  seen,  that  in  the 
midst  of  kindness  and  smooth  conduct,,  to  speak 
close  and  home  to  them  who  entertain  us,  on 
points  that  relate  to  their  outward  interest,  is  hard 
labour;  and  sometimes,  when  I  have  felt  truth  lead 
towards  it,  I  have  found  myself  disqualified  by  a 
superficial  friendship ;  and  as  the  sense  thereof 
hath  abased  me,  and  my  cries  have  been  to  the 
Lord,  so  I  have  been  humbled  and  made  content 
to  appear  weak,  or  as  a  fool  for  his  sake  ;  and  thus 
a  door  hath  opened  to  enter  upon  it.  To  attempt 
to  do  the  Lord's  work  in  our  own  way,  and  to 
speak  of  that  which  is  the  burden  of  the  word,  in  a 
way  easy  to  the  natural  part,  doth  not  reach  the 
bottom  of  the  disorder.  To  see  the  failings  of  our 
friends,  and  think  hard  of  them,  without  opening 
that  which  we  ought  to  open,  and  still  carry  a  face 
of  friendship,  this  tends  to  undermine  the  foundation 
of  true  unity. 

The  office  of  a  minister  of  Christ  is  weighty. 
And  they  who  now  go  forth  as  watchmen,  had  need 
to  be  steadily  on  their  guard  against  the  snares  of 
prosperity,  and  an  outside  friendship. 

After  the  yearly  meeting,  we  were  at  meetings 
at  Newtown,  Cushaet,  Long  Plain,  Rochester,  and 
Dartmouth.  From  thence  we  sailed  for  Nautucket, 
in  company  with  Ann  Gaunt,  Mercy  Redman,  and 
several  other  friends.  The  wind  being  slack,  we 
only  reached  Tarpawling  Cove  the  first  day  ; 
where,  going  on  shore,  we  found  room  in  a  public- 
house,  and  beds  for  a  few  of  us,  the  rest  sleeping 
on  the  floor.  We  went  on  board  again  about 


135 

break  of  day ;  and  though  the  wind  was  small,  we 
were  favoured  to  corue  within  about  four  miles  of 
Nantucket ;  and  then  about  ten  of  us  getting  into 
our  boat,  we  rowed  to  the  harbour  before  dark ; 
whereupon  a  large  boat  going  off,  brought  in  the 
rest  of  the  passengers  about  midnight.  The  next 
day  but  one  was  their  yearly  meeting,  which  held 
four  days ;  the  last  of  which  was  their  monthly 
meeting  for  business.  We  had  a  laborious  time 
amongst  them ;  our  minds  were  closely  exercised, 
and  I  believe  it  was  a  time  of  great  searching  of 
heart.  The  longer  I  was  on  the  island,  the  more  I 
became  sensible  that  there  was  a  considerable  num 
ber  of  valuable  friends  there,  though  an  evil  spirit, 
tending  to  strife,  had  been  at  work  amongst  them. 
I  was  cautious  of  making  any  visits,  but  as  my 
in  hid  was  particularly  drawn  to  them  ;  and  in  that 
way  we  had  some  sittings  in  friends'  houses,  where 
the  heavenly  wing  was,  at  times,  spread  over  us,  to 
our  mutual  comfort. 

My  beloved  companion  had  very  acceptable  ser 
vice  on  this  island. 

When  meeting  was  over,  we  all  agreed  to  sail 
the  next  day,  if  the  weather  was  suitable  and  we 
well ;  and  being  called  up  the  latter  part  of  the 
night,  we  went  on  b^ard  a  vessel,  being  in  all 
about  tifty  ;  but  the  wind  changing,  the  seamen 
thought  best  to  stay  in  the  harbour  till  it  altered  ; 
so  we  returned  on  shore.  And  feeling  clear  as  to 
any  further  visits,  I  spent  my  time  in  our  chamber 
chiefly  alone ;  and  after  some  hours,  my  heart 
being  iilled  with  the  spirit  of  supplication,  rny 


136 

prayers  and  tears  were  poured  out  before  my 
heavenly  Father,  for  his  help  and  instruction  in 
the  manifold  difficulties  which  attended  me  in  life. 
And  while  I  was  waiting*  upon  the  Lord,  there  came 
a  messenger  from  the  women  friends,  who  lodged 
at  another  house,  desiring  to  confer  with  us  about 
appointing  a  meeting,  which  to  me  appeared 
weighty,  as  we  had  been  at  so  many  before  ;  but 
after  a  short  conference,  and  advising  with  some 
elderly  friends,  a  meeting  was  appointed,  in  which 
the  friend,  who  first  moved  it,  and  who  had  been 
much  shut  up  before,  was  largely  opened  in  the  love 
of  the  gospel :  and  the  next  morning,  about  break 
of  day,  going  again  on  board  the  vessel,  we  reached 
Falmouth  on  the  Main  before  night,  where  our 
horses  being  brought,  we  proceeded  towards  Sand 
wich  quarterly  meeting. 

Being  two  days  in  going  to  Nantucket,  and 
having  been  there  once  before,  I  observed  many 
shoals  in  their  bay,  which  make  sailing  more  dan 
gerous,  especially  in  stormy  nights  ;  also,  that  a 
great  shoal,  which  encloses  their  harbour,  prevents 
their  going  in  with  sloops,  except  when  the  tide  is 
up ;  waiting  without  which,  for  the  rising  of  the 
tide,  is  sometimes  hazardous  in  storms  :  waiting 
within,  they  sometimes  miss  a  fair  wind.  I  took 
notice,  that  on  that  small  island  was  a  great  num 
ber  of  inhabitants,  and  the  soil  not  very  fertile ; 
the  timber  so  gone,  that  for  vessels,  fences,  and 
firewood,  they  depend  chiefly  on  the  buying  from 
the  Main  ;  the  cost  whereof,  with  most  of  their 
other  expenses,  they  depend  principally  upon  the 


137 

whale  fishery   to   answer.      I   considered,,  that  as 
towns  grew    larger,,    and    lands    near    navigable 
waters  more  cleared,  timber  and  wood  would  re 
quire  more  labour  to  get  it.     I  understood    that 
the  whales  being    much   hunted,    and    sometimes 
wounded  and  not  killed,  grew  more  shy  and  diffi 
cult  to  come  at.     I  considered  that  the  formation 
of  the  earth,  the  seas,  the  islands,  bays,  and  rivers, 
the  motions  of  the  winds,  and  great  waters,  which 
cause  bars  and  shoals  in  particular  places,  were  all 
the  works  of  Him  who  is  perfect  wisdom  and  good 
ness  ;    and   as  people   attend  to   his  heavenly  in 
struction,  and  put  their  trust  in  Him,  He  provides 
for  them  in  all  parts,  where  He  gives  them  a  being. 
And  as  in  this  visit  to  these  people,  I  felt  a  strong 
desire   for  their   firm   establishment   on    the    sure 
foundation  ;  besides  what  was  said  more  publicly, 
I  was  concerned  to  speak  with  the  women  friends, 
in  their  monthly  meeting  of  business,  many  being 
present ;  and  in  the  fresh  spring  of  pure  love,  to 
open  before  them  the  advantage,  both  inward  and 
outward,  of  attending  singly  to  the  pure  guidance 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,   and   therein  to  educate  their 
children    in    true  humility,  and   the  disuse   of  all 
superfluities,    reminding    (hem    of   the    difficulties 
their  husbands  and  sons  were  frequently  exposed 
to  at  sea;  and  that  the  more  plain  and  simple  their 
way  of  living  was,  the  less  need  of  running  great 
hazards  to  support  them  in  it;    encouraging  the 
young  women  in  their  neat  decent  way  of  attend 
ing  themselves  on  the  affairs  of  the  house ;  shewing*, 
as  the  way  opened;  that  where  people  were  "truly 


138 

humble,  used  themselves  to  business,  and  were 
content  with  a  plain  way  of  life,,  that  it  had  ever 
been  attended  with  more  true  peace  and  calmness 
of  mind,,  than  they  have  had,  who,  aspiring  to 
greatness  and  outward  show,  have  grasped  hard 
for  an  income  to  support  themselves  in  it.  And 
as  I  observed,  they  had  few  or  no  slaves  amongst 
them,  I  had  to  encourage  them  to  be  content 
without  them ;  making  mention  of  the  numerous 
troubles  and  vexations,  which  frequently  attended 
the  minds  of  people,  who  depend  on  slaves  to  do 
their  labour. 

We  attended  the  quarterly  meeting  at  Sand 
wich,  in  company  with  Ann  Gaunt  and  Mercy 
Redman,  which  was  preceded  by  a  monthly  meet 
ing;  and  in  the  whole  held  three  days.  We  were 
various  ways  exercised  amongst  them,,  in  gospel- 
love,  according  to  the  several  gifts  bestowed  on  us; 
and  were,  at  times  overshadowed  with  the  virtue 
of  truth,  to  the  comfort  of  the  sincere,  and  stirring 
up  of  the  negligent.  Here  we  parted  with  Ann 
and  Mercy,  and  went  to  Rhode  Island,  taking  one 
meeting  in  our  way,  which  was  a  satisfactory  time; 
and  reaching  Newport  the  evening  before  their 
quarterly  meeting,  we  attended  it ;  and  after  that, 
had  a  meeting  with  our  young  people,  separated 
from  those  cf  other  societies.  We  went  through 
much  labour  in  this  town  ;  and  now,  in  taking 
leave  of  it,  though  I  felt  close  inward  exercise  to 
the  last,  1  found  inward  peace ;  and  was  in  some 
degree  comforted,  in  a  belief,  that  a  good  number 
remain  in  that  place,  who  retain  a  sense  of  truth  ; 


139 

and,,  that  there  are  some  young  people  attentive 
to  the  voice  of  the  heavenly  Shepherd.  The  last 
meeting,,  in  which  friends  from  the  several  parts  of 
the  quarter  came  together,  was  a  select  meeting ; 
and  through  the  renewed  manifestation  of  the 
Father's  love,  the  hearts  of  the  sincere  were  united 
together. 

The  poverty  of  spirit  and  inward  weakness,  with 
which  I  was  much  tried  the  forepart  of  this  journey, 
has  of  late  appeared  to  me  as  a  dispensation  of 
kindness.  Appointing  meetings,  never  appeared 
more  weighty  to  me  ;  and  1  was  led  into  a  deep 
search,  whether  in  all  things  my  mind  was  resigned 
to  the  will  of  God  ;  often  querying  with  myself, 
what  should  be  the  cause  of  such  inward  poverty  ; 
and  greatly  desired,  that  no  secret  reserve  in  my 
heart  might  hinder  my  access  to  the  divine  foun 
tain.  In  these  humbling  times  I  was  made  watchful, 
and  excited  to  attend  to  the  secret  movings  of  the 
heavenly  principle  in  my  mind,  which  prepared  the 
way  to  some  duties,  that  in  more  easy  and  prosper 
ous  times  as  to  the  outward,  I  believe  I  should  have, 
been  in  danger  of  omitting. 

From  Newport  we  went  to  Greenwich,  Shariticut, 
and  Warwick  ;  and  were  helped  to  labour  amongst 
friends  in  the  love  of  our  gracious  Redeemer. 
And  then,  accompanied  by  our  friend  John  Casey 
from  Newport,  we  rode  through  Connecticut  to 
Oblong,  visited  the  meetings  of  friends  in  those 
parts,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  quarterly  meet^ 
ing  at  Ryewoods;  and,  through  the  gracious  ex- 
tendings  of  divine  help,  had  some  seasoning  oppor* 


140 

tunities  in  those  places.  So  we  visited  friends  at 
New  York  and  Flushing ;  and  thence  to  Rahaway. 
Here  our  roads  parting,  I  took  leave  of  my 
beloved  companion  and  true  yokemate  Samuel 
Eastburn  ;  and  reached  home  on  the  tenth  day  of 
the  eighth  month,  1760,,  where  I  found  my  family 
well.  And  for  the  favours  and  protection  of  the 
Lord,  both  inward  and  outward,  extended  to  me  in 
this  journey,  my  heart  is  humbled  in  grateful  ac 
knowledgments  ;  and  I  find  renewed  desires  to  dwell 
and  walk  in  resignedness  before  Him. 


141 


CHAP*  VIII. 

His  visits  to  Pennsylvania,  Shrewsbury  and  Squan. 
— His  publishing  the  second  part  of  his  Consi 
derations  on  keeping  Negroes. — The  grounds  of 
his  appearing  in  some  respects  singular  in  his 
dress. — His    visiting  the  families  of  friends  of 
Ancocas  and  Mount  Holly  meetings. — His  visits 
to  the  Indians  at  Wehaloosing  on  the  river  Sus- 
quchannah. 

HAVING  felt  my  mind  drawn  toward  a  visit  to  a 
few  meetings  in  Pennsylvania,,  I  was  very  desirous 
to  be  rightly  instructed  as  to  the  time  of  setting  off. 
And  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  fifth  month,  1761,  being 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  I  went  to  Haddonfield 
meeting,  concluding  to  seek  for  heavenly  instruc 
tion,  and  come  home  or  go  on,  as  I  might  then  be 
lieve  best  for  me ;  and  there  through  the  springing 
up  of  pure  love,  I  felt  encouragement,  and  so  crossed 
the  river.  .  In  this  visit  I  was  at  two  quarterly  and 
three  monthly  meetings;  and,  in  the  love  of  truth, 
felt  my  way  open  to  labour  with  some  noted  friends, 
who  kept  negroes.  And  as  I  was  favoured  to  keep 
to  the  root,  and  endeavour  to  discharge  what  I 
believed  was  required  of  me,  I  found  inward  peace 
therein,  from  time  to  time ;  and  thankfulness  of 
heart  to  the  Lord,  who  was  graciously  pleased  to  be 
a  guide  to  me. 


14*2 

In  the  eighth  month,  1761,  having  felt  drawings 
in  my  mind  to  visit  friends  in  and  about  Shrews 
bury  ;  I  went  there,,  and  was  at  their  monthly  meet 
ing,  and  their  first-day  meeting;  and  had  a  meeting 
at  Squan,  and  another  at  Squanquam ;  and,  as 
way  opened,  had  conversation  with  some  noted 
friends  concerning  their  slaves.  And  I  returned 
home  in  a  thankful  sense  of  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord. 

From  the  care  I  felt  growing  in  me  some  years, 
I  wrote  Considerations  on  keeping  Negroes,  part 
the  second  ;  which  was  printed  this  year,  1762. 
When  the  overseers  of  the  press  had  done  wiih  it, 
they  offered  to  get  a  number  printed,  to  be  paid  for 
out  of  the  yearly  meeting  stock,  and  to  be  given 
away ;  but  I  being  most  easy  to  publish  them  at 
my  own  expense,  and  offering  my  reasons,  they  ap 
peared  satisfied. 

This  stock  is  the  contribution  of  the  members  of 
our  religious  society  in  general ;  amongst  whom  are 
some  who  keep  negroes,  and  being  inclined  to  con 
tinue  them  in  slavery,  are  not  likely  to  be  satisfied 
with  those  books  being  spread  amongst  a  people 
where  many  of  the  slaves  are  taught  to  read,  and 
especially  not  at  their  expense  ;  and  such,  often  re 
ceiving  them  as  a  gift,  conceal  them.  But  as  they 
who  make  a  purchase,  generally  buy  that  which 
they  have  a  mind  for,  I  believed  it  best  to  sell 
them  ;  expecting,  by  that  means,  they  would  more 
generally  be  read  with  'attention.  Advertisements 
being  signed  by  order  of  the  overseers  of  the  press, 
directed  to  be  read  in  monthly  meetings  of  business 


143 

i 

within  our  own  yearly  meeting,  informing  where 
the  books  were,,  and  that  the  price  was  no  more 
than  the  cost  of  printing  and  binding  them;  many 
were  taken  off  in  our  parts ;  some  I  sent  to  Virginia, 
some  to  New  York,  and  some  to  Newport,,  to  my 
acquaintance  there,  and  some  I  kept,,  expecting  to 
give  part  of  them  away,,  where  there  appeared  a 
prospect  of  service. 

In  my  youth  I  was  used  to  hard  labour;  and 
though  I  was  middling  healthy,  yet  my  nature  was 
not  fitted  to  endure  so  much  as  many  others.  That 
being  often  weary,  I  was  prepared  to  sympathize 
with  those  whose  circumstances  in  life,  as  free  men, 
required  constant  labour  to  answer  the  demands  of 
their  creditors  ;  and  with  others  under  oppression. 
In  the  uneasiness  of  body,  which  I  have  many  times 
felt  by  too  much  labour,  not  as  a  forced  but  a 
voluntary  oppression,,  I  have  often  been  excited  to 
think  on  the  original  cause  of  that  oppression, 
which  i's  imposed  on  many  in  the  world.  And  the 
latter  part  of  the  time  wherein  I  laboured  on  our 
plantation,  my  heart,  through  the  fresh  visitations 
of  heavenly  love,  being  often  tender ;  and  my  leisure 
time  frequently  spent  in  reading  the  life  and  doc 
trines  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  the  account  of  the 
sufferings  of  martyrs,  and  the  history  of  the  first  rise 
of  our  society  ; — a  belief  was  gradually  settled  in 
my  mind,  that  if  such  as  had  great  estates,  gene 
rally  lived  in  that  humility  and  plainness  which 
belong  to  a  Christian  life,  and  laid  much  easier 
rents  and  interests  on  their  lands  and  monies,  and 
thus  led  the  way  to  a  right  use  of  things,  so  great  a 


144 

— f 

number  of  people  might  be  employed  in  things  use 
ful,  that  labour  both  for  men  and  other  creatures 
would  need  to  be  no  more  than  an  agreeable  em 
ploy  ;  and  divers  branches  of  business,  which  serve 
chiefly  to  please  the  natural  inclinations  of  our  minds, 
and  which,,  at  present,  seem  necessary  to  circulate 
that  wealth  which  some  gather,  might,  in  this  way 
of  pure  wisdom,  be  discontinued.  And  as  I  have 
thus  considered  these  things,  a  query,  at  times,  hath 
arisen.  Do  I,  in  all  my  proceedings,  keep  to  that 
use  of  things  which  is  agreeable  to  universal 
righteousness  ?  And  then  there  hath  some  degree 
of  sadness,  at  times,  come  over  me  ;  for  that  I  ac 
customed  myself  to  some  things,  which  occasioned 
more  labour  than  I  believe  divine  wisdom  intends 
for  us. 

Prorn  my  early  acquaintance  with  truth,  I  have 
often  felt  an  inward  distress,  occasioned  by  the 
striving  of  a  spirit  in  me,  against  the  operation  of 
the  heavenly  principle;  and  in  this  circumstance 
have  been  affected  with  a  sense  of  rny  own  wretch 
edness,  and  in  a  mourning  condition  felt  earnest 
longing  for  that  divine  help,  which  brings  the  soul 
into  true  liberty  ;  and  sometimes  in  this  state,  re 
tiring  into  private  places,  the  spirit  of  supplication 
hath  been  given  me ;  and  under  an  heavenly  cover 
ing,  I  have  asked  my  gracious  Father,  to  give  me 
a  heart  in  all  things  resigned  to  the  direction  of  his 
wisdom,  and  in  uttering  language  like  this,  the 
thoughts  of  my  wearing  hats  and  garments  dyed 
with  a  dye  hurtful  to  them,  have  made  lasting  im 
pressions  on  me. 


145 

In  visiting  people  of  note  in  the  society  who  ha4 
slaves,  and  labouring'  with  them  in  brotherly  love 
on  that  account,,  I  have  seen,  and  the  sight  has  af 
fected  me,  that  a  conformity  to  some  customs,  dis 
tinguishable  from  pure  wisdom,  has  entangled, 
many  ;  and  the  desire  of  gain  to  support  these  cus 
toms,  greatly  opposed  the  work  of  truth.  And  some* 
times  when  the  prospect  of  the  work  before  me  has 
been  such,  that  in  bowedness  of  spirit,  I  have 
been  drawn  into  retired  places,  and  besought  the 
Lord  with  tears  that  he  would  take  me  wholly 
under  his  direction,  and  show  me  the  way  in  which 
I  ought  to  walk ;  it  hath  revived  with  strength  of 
conviction,  that  if  I  would  be  his  faithful  servant,  I 
must  in  all  things  attend  to  his  wisdonr,  and  be 
teachable  ;  and  so  cease  from  all  customs  contrary 
thereto,  however  used  amongst  religious  people. 

As  He  is  the  perfection  of  power,  of  wisdom,  and 
of  goodness ;  so  I  believe,  he  hath  provided,  that 
so  much  labour  shall  be  necessary  for  men's  sup 
port  in  this  world,  as  would,  being  rightly  divided, 
be  a  suitable  employment  of  their  time  ;  and  that 
we  cannot  go  into  superfluities,  or  grasp  after  wealth 
in  a  way  contrary  to  his  wisdom,  without  having 
connexion  with  some  degree  of  oppression,  and 
with  that  spirit  which  leads  to  self-exaltation  and 
strife,  and  which  frequently  brings  calamities  on 
countries,  by  parties  contending  about  their  claims. 

Being  thus  fully  convinced,  and  feeling  an  in 
creasing  desire  to  live  in  the  spirit  of  peace  ;  being 
often  sorrowfully  affected  with  thinking  on  the  un 
quiet  spirit  in  which  wars  are  generally  carried  on, 


146 

and  with  the  miseries  of  many  of  my  fellow  crea 
tures  engaged  therein;  some  suddenly  destroyed  ; 
some  wounded,  and  after  much  pain  remaining  crip 
ples  ;  some  deprived  of  all  their  outward  substance, 
and  reduced  to  want;  and  some  carried  into  capti 
vity  : — thinking  often  on  these  things,  the  use  of 
hats  and  garments  dyed  with  a  dye  hurtful  to  them, 
and  wearing  more  clothes  in  summer  than  are  use 
ful,  grew  more  uneasy  to  me  ;  believing  them  to  be 
customs  which  have  not  their  foundation  in  pure 
wisdom.  The  apprehension  of  being  singular  from 
my  beloved  friends,  was  a  strait  upon  me  ;  and  thus 
I  remained  in  the  use  of  some  things  contrary  to 
my  judgment. 

On  the  thirty-first  day  of  the  fifth  month,  1761,  I 
was  taken  ill  of  a  fever  ;  and,  after  having  it  near  a 
week,  1  was  in  great  distress  of  body  :  and  one  day 
there  was  a  cry  raised  in  me,,  that  I  might  under 
stand  the  cause  why  I  was  afflicted,  and  improve 
under  it :  and  my  conformity  to  some  customs, 
which  I  believed  were  not  right,  was  brought  to  my 
remembrance  ;  and  in  the  continuance  of  the  exer 
cise,  I  felt  all  the  powers  in  me  yield  themselves  up 
into  the  hands  of  Him  who  gave  me  being ;  and 
was  made  thankful,  that  He  had  taken  hold  of  me  by 
his  chastisement;  feeling  the  necessity  of  further 
purifying,  there  was  now  no  desire  in  me  for  health, 
until  the  design  of  my  correction  was  answered  ; 
and  thus  I  lay  in  abasement  and  brokenness  of 
spirit,  and  as  1  felt  a  sinking  down  into  a  calm  re 
signation,  so  I  felt,  as  in  an  instant,  an  inward  heal 
ing*  in  my  nature ;  and  from  that  time  forward  I 
grew  better. 


147 

Though  I  was  thus  settled  in  mind  in  relation  to 
hurtful  dyes,  I  felt  easy  to  wear  my  garments  here 
tofore  made  ;  and  so  continued  about  nine  months* 
Then  I  thought  of  getting  a  hat  the  natural  colour 
of  the  fur ;  but  the  apprehension  of  being  looked 
upon  as  one  affecting  singularity,,  felt  uneasy  to  me: 
and  here  I  had  occasion  to  consider,  that  things, 
though  small  in  themselves,  being  clearly  enjoined 
by  divine  authority,  become  great  things  to  us; 
and  I  trusted  that  the  Lord  would  support  me  in 
the  trials  that  might  attend  singularity,  while  that 
singularity  was  only  for  his  sake.  On  this  account, 
I  was  under  close  exercise  of  mind  in  the  time  of 
our  general  spring  meeting  1762,  greatly  desiring 
to  be  rightly  directed  ;  when  being  deeply  bowed 
in  spirit  before  the  Lord,  I  was  made  willing  to 
submit  to  what  I  apprehended  was  required  of  me  ; 
and  when  I  returned  home,  got  a  hat  of  the  natural 
colour  of  the  fur. 

In  attending  meetings,  this  singularity  was  a  trial 
upon  me,  and  more  especially  at  this  time,  white 
hats  being  used  by  some  who  were  fond  of  follow 
ing  the  changeable  modes  of  dress ;  and  as  some 
friends,  who  knew  not  on  what  motives  I  wore  it, 
carried  shy  of  me,  I  felt  my  way  for  a  time  shut  up 
in  the  exercise  of  the  ministry.  In  this  condi 
tion,  my  mind  being  turned  toward  my  heavenly 
Father,  with  fervent  cries  that  I  might  be  preserved 
to  walk  before  Him  in  the  meekness  of  wisdom,  my 
heart  was  often  tender  in  meetings  ;  and  I  felt  an 
inward  consolation,  which  to  me  was  very  precious 
under  those  difficulties. 


148 

I  had  several  dyed  garments  fit  for  use,  which  I 
believed  it  best  to  wear,,  till  I  had  occasion  for  new 
ones  :  and  some  friends  were  apprehensive,  that  my 
wearing  such  a  hat  savoured  of  an  affected  singu 
larity  :  and  such  who  spake  with  me  in  a  friendly 
way,  I  generally  informed  in  a  few  words,  that  I 
believed  my  wearing  it,  was  not  in  my  own  will,  I 
had,  at  times,  been  sensible,  that  a  superficial  friend 
ship  had  been  dangerous  to  me  ;  and  many  friends 
being  now  uneasy  with  me,  I  had  an  inclination  to 
acquaint  some  with  the  manner  of  my  being  led 
into  these  things;  yet,  upon  a  deeper  thought,  I 
was  for  a  time  most  easy  to  omit  it,  believing  the 
present  dispensation  was  profitable ;  and  trusting, 
that  if  I  kept  my  place,  the  Lord  in  his  own  time 
would  open  the  hearts  of  friends  "toward  me  :  since 
which,  I  have  had  cause  to  admire  his  goodness  and 
loving  kindness,  in  leading  about  and  instructing, 
and  opening  and  enlarging  my  heart  in  some  of  our 
meetings. 

In  the  eleventh  month  of  the  year  1762,  feeling 
an  engagement  of  mind  to  visit  some  families  in 
Mansfield,  I  joined  my  beloved  friend  Benjamin 
Jones,  and  we  spent  a  few  days  together  in  that 
service.  In  the  second  month,  1763,  I  joined  in 
company  with  Elizabeth  Smith  and  Mary  Noble, 
on  a  visit  to  the  families  of  friends  at  Ancocas ;  in 
both  which  visits,  through  the  baptizing  power  of 
truth,  the  sincere  labourers  were  often  comforted, 
and  the  hearts  of  friends  opened  to  receive  us.  And 
in  the  fourth  month  following,  I  accompanied  some 
friends  in  a  visit  to  the  families  of  friends  in  Mount 


T49 

Holly ;  in  which  my  mind  was  often  drawn  into  an 
inward  awfulness,  wherein  strong  desires  were  raised 
for  the  everlasting  welfare  of  my  fellow-creatures ; 
and,  through  the  kindness  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
our  hearts  were,  at  times  enlarged,  and  friends  in 
vited,  in  the  flowings  of  divine  love,  to  attend  to  that 
which  would  settle  them  on  the  sure  foundation. 

Having  many  years  felt  love  in  my  heart  towards 
the  natives  of  this  land,  who  dwell  far  back  in  the 
wilderness,  whose  ancestors  were  the  owners  and 
possessors  of  the  land  where  we  dwell ;  and  who, 
for  a  small  consideration,  assigned  their  inheritance 
to  us :  and  being  at  Philadelphia  in  the  eighth 
month,  1761,  on  a  visit  to  some  friends  who  had 
slaves,  I  fell  in  company  with  some  of  those  natives 
who  lived  on  the  east  branch  of  the  river  Susque- 
hannah,  at  an  Indian  town  called  Wehaloosing,  two 
hundred  miles  from  Philadelphia ;  and  in  conver 
sation  with  them  by  an  interpreter,  as  also  by  ob?- 
servations  on  their  countenances  and  conduct,  I 
believed  some  of  them  were  measurably  acquainted 
with  that  divine  power  which  subjects  the  rough 
and  fro  ward  will  of  the  creature.  At  times,  I 
felt  inward  drawings  toward  a  visit  to  that  place  of 
which  I  told  none  except  my  dear  wife,  until  it 
came  to  some  ripeness,  and  then  in  the  winter  of 
1762,  I  laid  it  before  friends  at  our  monthly  and 
quarterly,  and  afterwards  at  our  general  spring 
meeting ;  and  having  the  unity  of  friends,  and 
being  thoughtful  about  an  Indian  pilot,  there  came 
a  man  and  three  women  from  a  little  beyond  that 
town  to  Philadelphia  on  business :  and  I  being  in* 


150 

formed  thereof  by  letter,  met  them  in  town  in  the 
fifth  month,  1763;  and  after  some  conversation, 
finding  they  were  sober  people,  I,  by  the  concur 
rence  of  friends  in  that  place,  agreed  to  join  with 
them  as  companions  in  their  return  ;  and  on  the 
seventh  day  of  the  sixth  month  following,  we  ap 
pointed  to  meet  at  Samuel  Foulk's,  at  Ri?hland  in 
Bucks  county.  Now  as  this  visit  felt  weighty,  and 
was  performed  at  a  time  when  travelling  appeared 
perilous,  so  the  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence, 
in  preparing  my  mind  for  it,  have  been  memorable  ; 
and  I  believe  it  good  for  me  to  give  some  hints 
thereof. 

After  I  had  given  up  to  go,  the  thoughts  of  the 
journey  were  often  attended  with  unusual  sad 
ness ;  in  which  times,  my  heart  was  frequently 
turned  to  the  Lord  with  inward  breathings  for  his 
heavenly  support,  that  I  might  not  fail  to  follow 
him  wheresoever  He  might  lead  me  :  and  being  at 
our  youth's  meeting  at  Chesterfield,  about  a  week 
before  the  time  I  expected  to  set  off,  was  there  led 
to  speak  on  that  prayer  of  our  Redeemer  to  his  Fa 
ther  :  "  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them 
out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them 
from  the  evil/'  And  in  attending  to  the  pure  open 
ings  of  truth,  had  to  mention  what  He  elsewhere 
said  to  his  Father ;  ec  I  know  that  thou  nearest  me 
at  all  times  :"  so  that,  as  some  of  his  followers  kept 
their  places,  and  as  his  prayer  was  granted,  it  fol 
lowed  necessarily  that  they  were  kept  from  evil  : 
and  as  some  of  those  met  with  great  hardships  and 
afflictions  in  this  world,  and  at  last  suffered  death 


151 

by  cruel  men  ;  it  appears,  that  whatsoever  befalls 
men  while  they  live  in  pure  obedience  to  God,  as  it 
certainly  works  for  their  good,  so  it  may  not  be 
considered  an  evil  as  it  relates  to  them.  As  I  spake 
on  this  subject,  rny  heart  was  much  tendered,  and 
great  awfulness  came  over  me ;  and  then,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  next  week,  being  at  our  own  after 
noon  meeting,  and  my  heart  being  enlarged  in  love, 
I  was  led  to  speak  on  the  care  and  protection  of 
the  Lord  over  his  people,  and  to  make  mention  of 
that  passage  where  a  band  of  Assyrians  endeavour 
ing  to  take  captive  the  prophet,  were  disappointed; 
and  how  the  psalmist  said,  (C  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear  Him/'  and 
thus,  in  true  love  and  tenderness,  I  parted  from 
friends,  expecting  the  next  morning  to  proceed  on. 
my  journey ;  and  being  weary  went  early  to  bed. 
After  I  had  been  asleep  a  short  time,  I  was 
awoke  by  a  man  calling  at  my  door ;  and  aris 
ing,  was  invited  to  meet  some  friends  at  a  public- 
house  in  our  town,  who  came  from  Philadelphia 
so  late,  that  friends  were  generally  gone  to  bed. 
These  friends  informed  me,  that  an  express  arrived 
the  last  morning  from  Pittsburg,  and  brought  news 
that  the  Indians  had  taken  a  fort  from  the  English 
westward,  and  had  slain  and  scalped  English  people 
in  divers  places,  some  near  the  said  Pittsburg  ;  and 
that  some  elderly  friends  in  Philadelphia,  knowing 
the  time  of  my  expecting  to  set  off,  had  conferred 
together,  and  thought  good  to  inform  me  of  these 
things,  before  I  left  home,  that  I  might  consider 
them,  and  proceed  as  I  believed  best;  so  1^  going 


152 

ag&in  to  bed,,  told  not  my  wife  till  morning.  My 
heart  was  turned  to  the  Lord  for  his  heavenly  in 
struction  ;  and  it  was  an  humbling  time  to  me. 
When  I  told  my  dear  wife,  she  appeared  to  be 
deeply  concerned  about  it ;  but  in  a  few  hours  time, 
my  mind  became  settled  in  a  belief,  that  it  was  my 
duty  to  proceed  on  my  journey  ;  and  she  bore  it 
with  a  good  degree  of  resignation,  In  this  conflict 
of  spirit,  there  were  great  searchings  of  heart,  and 
strong  cries  to  the  Lord,  that  no  motion  might  be 
in  the  least  degree  attended  to,  but  that  of  the  pure 
spirit  of  truth. 

The  subjects  before-mentioned,  on  which  I  had 
so  lately  spoken  in  public,  were  now  very  fresh  be 
fore  me ;  and  I  was  brought  inwardly  to  commit 
myself  to  the  Lord,  to  be  disposed  of  as  He  saw 
best.  So  I  took  leave  of  my  family  and  neigh 
bours,  in  much  bowedness  of  spirit,  and  went  to  our 
monthly  meeting  at  Burlington ;  and  after  taking 
leave  of  friends  there,  I  crossed  the  river,  accompa 
nied  by  my  friends  Israel  and  John  Pemberton ; 
arid  parting  the  next  morning  with  Israel,  John 
bore  me  company  to  Samuel  Poulk's  ;  where  I  met 
the  before-mentioned  Indians,  and  we  were  glad  to 
see  each  other.  Here  my  friend  Benjamin  Parvin 
inet  me,  and  proposed  joining  as  a  companion,  we 
^having  passed  some  letters  before  on  the  subject  ; 
and  now  on  his  account  I  had  a  sharp  trial ;  for  as 
the  journey  appeared  perilous,  I  thought  if  he  went 
chiefly  to  bear  me  company,  and  we  should  be 
taken  captive,  my  having  been  the  means  of  draw- 
ing.him  into  these  difficulties.,  would  add  to  my  own 


153 

afflictions:  so  I  told  him  my  mind  freely,  and  let 
him  know  that  I  was  resigned  to  go  alone;  but 
after  all,  if  he  really  believed  it  to  be  his  duty  to  go 
on,,  I  believed  his  company  would  be  very  comfort 
able  to  me.  It  was  indeed  a  time  of  deep  exercise, 
and  Benjamin  appeared  to  be  so  fastened  to  the 
visit,  that  he  could  not  be  easy  to  leave  me;  so  we 
went  on,  accompanied  by  our  friends  John  Pem- 
berton,  and  William  Lightfoot  of  Pikeland,  and 
lodged  at  Bethlehem  ;  and  there  parting  with  John, 
William  and  we  went  forward  on  the  ninth  day  of 
the  sixth  month,  and  got  lodging  on  the  floor  of  a 
house,  about  five  miles  from  Fort  Allen.  Here  we 
parted  with  William  :  and  at  this  place  we  met  with 
an  Indian  trader,  lately  come  from  Wioming ;  and 
in  conversation  with  him  I  perceived  that  many 
white  people  do  often  sell  rum  to  the  Indians,  which 
I  believe,  is  a  great  evil ;  first,  they  being  thereby 
deprived  of  the  use  of  their  reason,  and  their  spirits 
violently  agitated,  quarrels  often  arise  which  end  in 
mischief;  and  the  bitterness  and  resentment  occa 
sioned  hereby,  are  frequently  of  long  continuance  : 
again,  their  skins  and  furs,  gotten  through  much 
fatigue  and  hard  travels  in  hunting,  with  which 
they  intended  to  buy  clothing,  when  they  become 
intoxicated,  they  often  sell  at  a  low  rate  for  more 
rum  ;  and  afterward,  when  they  suffer  for  want  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  are  angry  with  those  who, 
for  the  sake  of  gain,  took  the  advantage  of  their 
weakness  :  of  this  their  chiefs  have  often  com 
plained,  at  their  treaties  with  the  English.  Where 
cunning  people  pass  counterfeits,  and  impose  that 


154 

on  others  which  is  good  for  nothing,  it  is  considered 
as  a  wickedness ;  but  to  sell  that  to  people  which 
we  know  does  them  harm,  and  which  often  works 
their  ruin,  for  the  sake  of  gain,  manifests  a  hardened 
and  corrupt  heart ;  and  is  an  evil,  which  demands 
the  care  of  all  true  lovers  of  virtue  to  suppress. 
While  my  mind  this  evening,  was  thus  employed,  I 
also  remembered,  that  the  people  on  the  frontiers, 
among  whom  this  evil  is  too  common,  are  often 
poor ;  who  venture  to  the  outside  of  a  colony,  that 
they  may  live  more  independent  on  such  as  are 
wealthy,  who  often  set  high  rents  on  their  land  : 
being  renewedly  confirmed  in  a  belief,  that  if  all 
our  inhabitants  lived  according  to  sound  wisdom, 
labouring  tq.promote  universal  love  and  righteous 
ness,  and  ceased  from  every  inordinate  desire  after 
wealth,  and  from  all  customs  which  are  tinctured 
with  luxury,  the  way  would  be  easy  for  our  inhabi 
tants,  though  much  more  numerous  than  at  present, 
to  live  comfortably  on  honest  employments,  without 
having  that  temptation  they  are  often  under,  of 
being  drawn  into  schemes  to  make  settlements  on 
lands  which  have  not  been  purchased  of  the  Indians, 
or  of  applying  to  that  wicked  practice  of  selling 
rum  to  them. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  the  month  we  set  out  early 
in  the  morning,  and  crossed  the  western  branch  of 
Delaware,  called  the  Great  Lehie  near  Fort  Allen  ; 
the  water  being  high,  we  went  over  in  a  canoe. 
Here  we  met  an  Indian,  and  had  some  friendly  con 
versation  with  him,  and  gave  him  some  biscuit  ; 
and  he  having  killed  a  deer,  gave  the  Indians  with 


155 

us  some  of  it.  Then  after  travelling  some  miles,  we 
met  several  Indian  men  and  women  with  a  cow  and 
horse,  and  some  household  goods,  who  were  lately 
come  from  their  dwelling  at  Wioming,  and  going 
to  settle  at  another  place;  we  made  them  some 
small  presents ;  and  some  of  them  understanding 
English,  I  told  them  rriy  motive  in  coming  into  their 
country ;  with  which  they  appeared  satisfied  :  and 
one  of  our  guides  talking  awhile  with  an  ancient 
woman  concerning  us,  the  poor  old  woman  came 
to  my  companion  and  me,  and  took  her  leave  of  us 
with  an  appearance  of  sincere  affection.  So  going 
on,  we  pitched  our  tent  near  the  banks  of  the  same 
river,  having  laboured  hard  in  crossing  some  of 
those  mountains  called  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  by  the 
roughness  of  the  stones,  and  the  cavities  between 
them,  and  the  steepness  of  the  hills  it  appeared  dan 
gerous.  But  we  were  preserved  in  safety,  through 
the  kindness  of  Him  whose  works  in  these  moun 
tainous  deserts  appeared  awful,,  toward  whom  rny 
heart  was  turned  during  this  day's  travel. 

Near  our  tent,  on  the  sides  of  large  trees  peeled 
for  that  purpose,  were  various  representations  of 
men  going  to,  and  returning  from  the  wars,  and  of 
some  killed  in  battle.  This  being  a  path  hereto 
fore  used  by  warriors ;  and  as  I  walked  about  view 
ing  those  Indian  histories,  which  were  painted 
mostly  in  red,  but  some  in  black;  and  thinking  on 
the  innumerable  afflictions  which  the  proud,  fierce, 
spirit  produceth  in  the  world  ;  thinking  on  the  toils 
and  fatigues  of  warriors,  travelling  over  mountains 
and  deserts ;  thinking  on  their  miseries  and  distresses 


156 

when  wounded  far  from  home,  by  their  enemies  ; 
and  of  their  bruises  and  great  weariness  in  chasing 
one  another  over  the  rocks  and  mountains  ;  and  of 
their  restless,  unquiet  state  of  mind,,  who  live  in  this 
spirit,  and  of  the  hatred  which  mutually  grows  up 
in  the  minds  of  the  children  of  those  nations  engaged 
in  war  with  each  other  :  during  these  meditations, 
the  desire  to  cherish  the  spirit  of  love  and  peace 
amongst  these  people  arose  very  fresh  in  me.  This 
was  the  first  night  that  we  lodged  in  the  woods ;  and 
being  wet  with  travelling  in  the  rain,  the  ground, 
our  tent,  and  the  bushes  which  we  purposed  to  lay 
under  our  blankets  also  wet,  all  looked  discourag 
ing  ;  but  I  believed,  that  it  was  the  Lord  who  had 
thus  far  brought  me  forward,  and  that  He  would  dis 
pose  of  me  as  He  saw  good,  and  therein  I  felt  easy. 
So  we  kindled  a  fire,  with  our  tent  open  to  it ;  and 
with  some  bushes  next  the  ground,  and  then  our 
blankets,  we  made  our  bed,  and  lying  down  got 
some  sleep  ;  and  in  the  morning,  feeling  a  little  un 
well,  I  went  into  the  river  ;  the  water  was  cold,  but 
soon  after  1  felt  fresh  and  well. 

The  eleventh  day  of  the  sixth  month,  the  bushes 
being  wet,  we  tarried  in  our  tent,  till  about  eight 
o'clock ;  when  going  on,  crossed  a  high  mountain 
supposed  to  be  upward  of  four  miles  over,  the  steep 
ness  on  the  north  side  exceeding  all  the  others ;  we 
also  crossed  two  swamps,  and  it  raining  near  night,, 
we  pitched  our  tent  and  lodged. 

About  noon,  on  our  way,  we  were  overtaken  by 
one  of  the  Moravian  brethren,  going  to  Wehaloosing, 
and  an  Indian  man  with  him,  who  could  talk 


157 

English,  and  we  being  together  while  our  horses  ate 
grass,  had  some  friendly  conversation ;  but  they 
travelling  faster  than  we,  soon  left  us.  This  Mo 
ravian,  I  understood,  had  spent  some  time,  this 
spring  at  Wehaioosing ;  arid  was,  by  some  of  the 
Indians,  invited  to  come  again. 

The  twelfth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  and  first  of 
the  week,  it  being  a  rainy  day,  we  continued  in  our 
tent ;  and  here  I  was  led  to  think  on  the  nature  of 
the  exercise  which  hath  attended  me.  Love  was 
the  first  motion,  and  thence  a  concern  arose  to 
spend  some  time  with  the  Indians,  that  I  might  feel 
and  understand  their  life,  and  the  spirit  they  live  in, 
if  haply  I  might  receive  some  instruction  from 
them ;  or  they  be  in  any  degree  helped  forward  by 
my  following  the  leadings  of  truth  amongst  them. 
And  as  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  make  way  for  my 
going  at  a  time  when  the  troubles  of  war  were  in 
creasing,  and  when,  by  reason  of  much  wet  wea 
ther,  travelling  was  more  difficult  than  usual  at  that 
season,  I  looked  upon  it  as  a  more  favourable  op 
portunity  to  season  my  mind,  and  bring  me  into  a 
nearer  sympathy  with  them.  And  as  mine  eye  was 
to  the  great  Father  of  mercies,  liurnbly  desiring  to 
learn  what  his  will  was  concerning  me,  I  was  made 
quiet  and  content. 

Our  guide's  horse,  though  hoppled,  went  away 
in  the  night ;  and  after  finding  our  own,  and  search 
ing  some  time  for  him,  his  footsteps  were  discovered 
in  the  path  going  back  again,  whereupon  my  kind 
companion  went  off  in  the  rain,  and  after  about 
seven  hours  returned  with  him.  And  here  we 


158 

lodged  again  ;  tying  up  our  horses  before  we  went 
to  bed,  and  loosing  them  to  feed  about  break  of 
day. 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,,  the 
sun  appearing,  we  set  forward  ;  and  as  I  rode  over 
the  barren  hills,  my  meditations  were  on  the  alter 
ations  of  the  circumstances  of  the  natives  of  this 
land  since  the  coming  in  of  the  English.  The  lands 
near  the  sea,  are  conveniently  situated  for  fishing  ; 
the  lands  near  the  rivers,  where  the  tides  flow,  and 
some  above,  are  in  many  places  fertile,  and  not 
mountainous ;  while  the  running  of  the  tides,  makes 
passing  up  and  down  easy  with  any  kind  of  traffick. 
Those  natives  have,  in  some  places,  for  trifling  con 
siderations,  sold  their  inheritance  so  favourably 
situated ;  and  in  other  places,  been  driven  back  by 
superior  force.  So  that,  in  many  places,  as  their 
way  of  clothing  themselves  is  now  altered  from 
what  it  was,  and  they,  far  remote  from  us,  have  to 
pass  over  mountains,  swamps,  and  barren  deserts, 
where  travelling  is  very  troublesome,  in  bringing 
their  skins  and  furs  to  trade  with  us. 

By  the  extending  of  English  settlements,  and 
partly  by  English  hunters,  the  wild  beasts  they 
chiefly  depend  upon  for  a  subsistence,  are  not  so 
plentiful  as  they  were ;  and  people  too  often,  for  the 
sake  of  gain,  open  a  door  for  them  to  waste  their 
skins  and  furs,  in  purchasing  a  liquor  which  tends 
to  the  ruin  of  them  and  their  families. 

My  own  will  and  desires  were  now  very  much 
broken,  and  my  heart,  with  much  earnestness, 
turned  to  the  Lord,  to  whom  alone  I  looked  for 


159 

help  in  the  dangers  before  me.  I  had  a  prospect 
of  the  English  along  the  coast,  for  upwards  of  nine 
hundred  miles,  where  I  have  travelled  ;  and  the 
favourable  situation  of  the  English,  and  the  diffi 
culties  attending  the  natives  in  many  places,  and 
the  negroes,  were  open  before  me ;  and  a  weighty 
arid  heavenly  care  came  over  my  mind,  and  love 
filled  my  heart  toward  all  mankind.,  in  which  I  felt 
a  strong  engagement,  that  we  might  be  obedient  to 
the  Lord,  while  in  tender  mercies,  he  is  yet  calling 
to  us ;  and  so  attend  to  pure  universal  righteous 
ness,  as  to  give  no  just  cause  of  offence  to  the  Gen 
tiles,  who  do  not  profess  Christianity,  whether  the 
blacks  from  Africa  or  the  native  inhabitants  of  this 
continent.  Here  I  was  led  into  a  close,  laborious 
enquiry,  whether  I,  as  an  individual,  kept  clear 
from  all  things  which  tended  to  stir  up,  or  were 
connected  with  wars,  either  in  this  land  or  Africa; 
and  my  heart  was  deeply  concerned,  that  in  future 
I  might  in  all  things  keep  steadily  to  the  pure  truth, 
and  live  and  walk  in  the  plainness  and  simplicity 
of  a  sincere  follower  of  Christ.  And  in  this  lonely 
journey  I  did,  this  day,  greatly  bewail  the  spread 
ing  of  a  wrong  spirit,  believing  that  fche  prospe 
rous,,  convenient  situation  of  the  English,  requires  a 
constant  attention  to  divine  love  and  wisdom  to 
guide  and  support  us,  in  a  way  answerable  to  the 
will  of  that  good,  gracious,  and  almighty  Being, 
who  hath  an  equal  regard  to  all  mankind.  And 
here  luxury  and  covetousness,  with  the  numerous 
oppressions,  arid  other  evils,  attending  them,  ap 
peared  very  afflicting  to  me;  and  1  felt  in  that 


160 

which  is  immutable,,  that  the  seeds  of  great  calamity 
and  desolation  are  sown  and  growing  fast  on  this 
continent.  Nor  have  I  words  sufficient  to  set  forth 
that  longing  I  then  felt,  that  we,  who  are  placed 
along  the  coast,  and  have  tasted  the  love  and 
goodness  of  God,  might  arise  in  his  strength  ;  and 
like  faithful  messengers,  labour  to  check  the  growth 
of  these  seeds,  that  they  may  not  ripen  to  the  ruin 
of  our  posterity. 

We  reached  the  Indian  settlement  at  Wioming : 
and  here  we  were  told,  that  an  Indian  runner  had 
been  at  that  place  a  day  or  two  before  us,  and 
brought  news  of  the  Indians  taking  an  English  fort 
westward,  and  destroying  the  people,  and  that  they 
were  endeavouring  to  take  another ;  and  also,  that 
another  Indian  runner  came  there  about  the  middle 
of  the  night  before  we  got  there,  who  came  from  a 
town  about  ten  miles  fromWehaloosirig,and  brought 
news,  that  some  Indian  warriors,  from  distant  parts, 
came  to  that  town  with  two  English  scalps,  and 
told  the  people  that  it  was  war  with  the  English. 

Our  guides  took  us  to  the  house  of  a  very  ancient 
man ;  and,  soon  after  we  had  put  in  our  baggage, 
there  came  a  man  from  another  Indian  house  some 
distance  off;  and  I,  perceiving  there  was  a  man 
near  the  door,  went  out ;  and  he  having  a  toma 
hawk  wrapped  under  his  matchcoat  out  of  sight,  as 
I  approached  him,  he  took  it  in  his  hand  ;  I,  how 
ever,  went  forward,  and  speaking  to  him  in  a 
friendly  way  perceived  he  understood  some  English. 
My  companion  then  coming  out,  we  had  some  talk 
with  him  concerning  the  nature  of  our  visit  in  these 


161 

parts ;  and  then  lie  going  into  the  house  with  us, 
and  talking  with  our  guides,  soon  appeared  friendly, 
and  sat  down  and  smoked  his  pipe.  Though  his 
taking  his  hatchet  in  his  hand  at  the  instant  I  drew 
near  to  him,  had  a  disagreeable  appearance,  I  be 
lieve  he  had  no  other  intent  than  to  be  in  readiness 
in  case  any  violence  was  offered  to  him. 

Hearing  the  news  brought  by  these  Indian  run 
ners,    and    being    told    by  the  Indians  where  we 
lodged,    that  what  Indians  were  about  Wioming 
expected  in  a  few  days    to   move  to  some  larger 
towns,  I  thought  that,  to  all  outward  appearance, 
it  was  dangerous  travelling  at  this  time  ;  and  was, 
after  a  hard  day's  journey,  brought  into  a  painful 
exercise  at  night,  in  which  I  had  to  trace  back  and 
view  over  the   steps  I    had  taken  from   my   first 
moving  in  the  visit;   and  though  I  had  to  bewail 
some  weakness  which  at  times  had  attended  me, 
yet  I  could  not  find  that  I  had  ever  given  way  to  a 
wilful  disobedience  ;  and  then  as  I  believed  I  had, 
under  a  sense  of  duty,  come  thus  far,  I  was  now 
earnest  in  spirit,  beseeching  the  Lord  to  show  me 
what  I  ought  to  do.     In  this  great  distress  I  grew 
jealous  of  myself,  lest  the  desire  of  reputation,  as 
a  man  firmly  settled  to  persevere  through  dangers, 
or  the  fear  of  disgrace  arising  on  my  returning 
without  performing  the  visit,  might  have  some  place 
in  me.   Thus  I  lay,  full  of  thoughts,  great  part  of  the 
night,  while  my  beloved  companion  lay  and  slept 
by  me,  till  the  Lord,  my  gracious  Father,  who  saw 
the  conflicts  of  my  soul,  was  pleased  to  give  quiet 
ness  :  then  I  was  again  strengthened  to  commit  my 

L 


life,  and  all  things  relating  thereto.,  into  his  heavenly 
hands  ;  and  getting  a  little  sleep  toward  day,,  when 
morning  came,  we  arose. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,,  we 
sought  out  and  visited  all  the  Indians  hereabouts 
that  we  could  meet  with,  they  being  chiefly  in  one 
place,  about  a  mile  from  where  we  lodged,  in  all 
perhaps  twenty.  Here  I  expressed  the  care  I  had 
on  my  mind  for  their  good,  and  told  them,  that 
true  love  had  made  me  willing  thus  to  leave  my 
family  to  come  and  see  the  Indians,  and  speak  with 
them  in  their  houses.  Some  of  them  appeared 
kind  and  friendly.  So  we  took  our  leave  of  these 
Indians,  and  went  up  the  river  Susquehannah,  about 
three  miles,  to  the  house  of  an  Indian,  called  Jacob 
January,  who  had  killed  his  hog;  and  the  women 
were  making  store  of  bread,  and  preparing  to  move 
up  the  river.  Here  our  pilots  left  their  canoe  when 
they  came  down  in  the  spring,  which,  lying  dry,  was 
leaky  ;  so  that  we,  being  detained  some  hours,  had 
a  good  deal  of  friendly  conversation  with  the  family; 
and  eating  dinner  with  them,  we  made  them  some 
small  presents  :  then  putting  our  baggage  in  the 
canoe,  some  of  them  pushed  slowly  up  the  stream, 
and  the  rest  of  us  rode  our  horses ;  and  swimming 
them  over  a  creek,  called  Lahawahamunk,  we 
pitched  our  tent  above  it,  there  being  a  shower  in 
the  evening.  In  a  sense  of  God's  goodness  in  help 
ing  me  in  my  distress,  sustaining  me  under  trials, 
and  inclining  my  heart  to  trust  in  Him,  I  lay  down 
in  an  humble  bowed  frame  of  mind,  and  had  a 
comfortable  night's  lodging. 


163 

On  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  we  pro 
ceeded  forward  till  the  afternoon,,  when  a  storm 
appearing*,  we  met  our  canoe  at  an  appointed  place, 
and  we  staid  all  night,  the  rain  continuing  so  heavy 
that  it  beat  through  our  tent,  and  wet  us  and  our 
baggage. 

c5O     O 

On  the  sixteenth  day,  we  found  on  our  way 
abundance  of  trees  blown  down  by  the  storm  yes 
terday  ;  and  had  occasion  reverently  to  consider  the 
kind  dealings  of  the  Lord,  who  provided  a  safe 
place  for  us  in  a  valley  while  this  storrn  continued. 
By  the  falling  of  abundance  of  trees  across  our  path, 
we  were  much  hindered,  and  in  some  swamps  our 
way  was  so  stopped  that  we  got  through  with  ex 
treme  difficulty. 

I  had  this  day  often  to  consider  myself  as  a 
sojourner  in  this  world  ;  and  a  belief  in  the  all- 
sufficiency  of  God  to  support  his  people  in  their 
pilgrimage,  felt  comfortable  to  me ;  and  I  was 
industriously  employed  to  get  to  a  state  of  perfect 
resignation. 

We  seldom  saw  our  canoe  but  at  appointed 
places,  by  reason  of  the  path  going  off  from  the 
river:  and  this  afternoon,  Job  Chilaway,  an  Indian 
from  Wehaloosing,  who  talks  good  English,  and  is 
acquainted  with  several  people  in  and  about  Phila 
delphia,  met  our  people  on  the  river ;  and  under 
standing  where  we  expected  to  lodge,  pushed  back 
about  six  miles,  and  came  to  us  after  night ;  and  in 
a  while  our  own  canoe  came,  it  being  hard  work 
pushing  up  the  stream.  Job  told  us,  that  an  Indian 
came  in  haste  to  their  town  yesterday,  and  tpld 


164 

thorn,,  1hat  three  vvarriors  coining  from    some  dis 
tance,  lodged  in  a    town    above    Wehaloosing,  a 
few  nights  past  ;  ami   that  these  three  men   were 
going  against  the  English  at  Juniata.     Job  was 
going  down    the    river    to    the   province-store   at 
Shunokin.     Though  I  was  so  far  favoured  with 
health  as  to  continue  travelling,  yet,  through  the 
various  difficulties  in  our  journey,  and  the  different 
way  of  living  from  what  I  had  been  used  to,,  I  grew 
sick  :  and  the  news  of  these  warriors  being  on  their 
march  so  near  us,   and  not  knowing  whether  we 
might  not  fall  in  with  them,  was  a  fresh  trial  of  my 
faith  ;  and  though  through  the  strength  of  divine 
love,  I  had  several  times  been  enabled  to  commit 
myself  to  the  divine  disposal,  I  still  found  the  want 
of  my  strength  to  be  renewed,  that  I  might  per 
severe  therein  ;  and  my  cries  for  help  were  put  up 
to  the  Lord,  who,  in  great  mercy  gave  me  a  re 
signed  heart,  in  which  I  found  quietness. 

On  the  seventeenth  day,  parting  from  Job  Chil- 
away,  we  went  on,  and  reached  Wehaloosing  about 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  The  first  Indian  that 
we  saw,  vvas  a  woman  of  a  modest  countenance, 
with  a  Bible,  who  first  spake  to  our  guide ;  and 
then,  with  an  harmonious  voice,  expressed  her 
gladness  at  seeing  us,  having  before  heard  of  our 
corning :  then,  by  the  direction  of  our  guide,  we 
sat  down  on  a  log,  and  he  went  to  the  town,  to  tell 
the  people  wre  were  come.  My  companion  and  I 
sitting  thus  together,  in  a  deep  inward  stillness,  the 
poor  woman  came  and  sat  near  us  ;  and  great  awful- 
ness  coming  over  us,  we  rejoiced  in  a  sense  of  God's 


165 

love  manifested  to  our  poor  souls.  After  a  while,  we 
heard  a  conkshell  blow  several  times,  arid  then  came 
John  Curtis,  and  another  Indian  man,  who  kindly 
invited  us  into  a  house  near  the  town,  where  we 
found,  I  suppose,  about  sixty  people  sitting  in 
silence.  After  sitting  a  short  time,  I  stood  up, 
and  in  some  tenderness  of  spirit  acquainted  them 
with  the  nature  of  my  visit,  and  that  a  concern  for 
their  good  had  made  me  willing  to  come  thus  far  to 
see  them  :  all  in  a  few  short  sentences,  which  some 
of  them  understanding,  interpreted  to  the  others, 
and  there  appeared  gladness  amongst  them.  Then 
I  shewed  them  my  certificate,  which  was  explained 
to  them;  and  the  Moravian  who  overtook  us  on 
the  way,  being  now  here,  bid  me  welcome. 

On  the  eighteenth  day,  we  rested  ourselves  this 
forenoon  ;  and  the  Indians  knowing  that  the  Mora 
vian  and  I  were  of  different  religious  societies,  and 
as  some  of  their  people  had  encouraged  him  to 
come  and  stay  a  while  with  them,  were,  I  believe, 
concerned,  that  no  jarring  or  discord  might  be  in 
their  meetings :  and  they,  I  suppose,  having  con 
ferred  together,  acquainted  me,  that  the  people,  at 
my  request,  would,  at  any  time,  come  together,  and 
hold  meetings;  and  also  told  me,  that  they  expected 
the  Moravian  would  speak  in  their  settled  meetings, 
which  are  commonly  held  morning  and  near  even 
ing.  So  I  found  liberty  in  my  heart  to  speak  to  the 
Moravian,  and  told  him  of  the  care  I  felt  on  my 
mind  for  the  good  of  these  people ;  and  that  I 
believed  no  ill  effects  would  follow  it,  if  I  sometimes 
spake  in  their  meetings  \\hen  love  engaged  me 


16G 

thereto,  without  calling  them  together  at  times  when 
they  did  not  meet  of  course.     Whereupon  he  ex 
pressed  his  good -will  toward  my  speaking  at  any 
time,  all  that  I  found  in  my  heart  to  say ;  so,  near 
evening,  I  was  at  their  meeting,   where  the  pure 
gospel  love  was  felt,  to  the  tendering  of  some  of  our 
hearts ;   and  the  interpreters  endeavouring  to  ac 
quaint  the  people  with  what  I  said,  in  short  sen 
tences,  found  some  difficulty,  as  none  of  them  were 
quite  perfect  in  the  English  and  Delaware  tongues, 
so  they  helped  one  another,  and  we  laboured  along, 
divine     love     attending.     Afterwards    feeling    my 
mind  covered  with  the  spirit  of  prayer,  I  told  the 
interpreters  that  I  found  it  in  my  heart  to  pray  to 
God,  and  believed,  if  I  prayed  aright,  He  would  hear 
me  ;  and  expressed  my  willingness  for  them  to  omit 
interpreting  ;  so  our  meeting  ended  with  a  degree  of 
divine  love  :  and  before  the  people  went  out,  I  ob 
served  Papunehang  (the  man  who  had  been  zealous 
in  labouring  for  a  reformation  in  that  town,  being 
then  very  tender)  spoke  to  one  of  the  interpreters  ; 
and  I  was  afterwards  told  that  he  said  in  substance  as 
follows:  "  I  love  to  feel  where  words  come  from.'* 
On  the  nineteenth  day,  and  first  of  the  week,  this 
morning,  in  the  meeting,  the  Indian  who  came  with 
the  Moravian,  being  also  a  member  of  that  society, 
prayed  ;  and  then  the  Moravian  spake  a  short  time 
to  the  people.  In  the  afternoon  they  coming  together, 
and  my  heart  being  filled  with  a  heavenly  care  for 
their  good,  I  spake  to  them  awhile  by  interpreters; 
but  none  of  them  being  perfect  in  the  work,  and  I 
feeling  the  current  of  love  run  strong,  told  the  in- 


16? 

terpreters,  that  I  believed  some  of  the  people  would 
understand  me,  and  so  I  proceeded;  in  which  exercise 
I  believe  the  Holy  Ghost  wrought  on  some  hearts 
to  edification  where  all  the  words  were  not  under 
stood.  I  looked  upon  it  as  a  time  of  divine  favour, 
and  my  heart  was  tendered  and  truly  thankful 
before  the  Lord  ;  and  after  I  sat  down,  one  of  the 
interpreters  seemed  spirited  to  give  the  Indians  the 
substance  of  what  I  had  said. 

Before  our  first  meeting  this  morning,  I  was  led 
to  meditate  on  the  manifold  difficulties  of  these 
Indians,,  who,  by  the  permission  of  the  Six  Nations, 
dwell  in  these  parts  ;  and  a  near  sympathy  with 
them  was  raised  in  me  ;  and  my  heart  being  en 
larged  in  the  love  of  Christ,  I  thought  that  the 
affectionate  care  of  a  good  man  for  his  only  brother 
in  affliction,  does  not  exceed  what  I  then  felt  for  that 
people. 

I  carne  to  this  place  through  much  trouble  ;  and 
though,  through  the  mercies  of  God,  I  believed 
that  if  I  died  in  the  journey,  it  would  be  well  with 
me;  yet,  the  thoughts  of  falling  into  the  hands  of 
Indian  warriors,  were,  in  times  of  weakness,  afflict 
ing  to  me  ;  and  being  of  a  tender  constitution  of 
body,  the  thoughts  of  captivity  amongst  them  were, 
at  times,  grievous  ;  as  supposing  that  they,  being 
strong  and  hardy,  might  demand  service  of  me 
beyond  what  I  could  well  bear  ;  but  the  Lord  alone 
was  my  keeper  ;  and  I  believed,  if  I  went  into  cap 
tivity,  it  would  be  for  some  good  end  ;  and  thus, 
from  time  to  time,  my  mind  was  centered  in  re 
signation,  in  which  1  always  found  quietness.  And 


168 

now,  this  day,  though  I  had  the  same  dangerous 
wilderness  between  me  and  home,  I  was  inwardly 
joyful  that  the  Lord  had  strengthened  me  to  come 
on  this  visit,  and  manifested  a  fatherly  care  over  me 
in  my  poor  lowly  condition,  when  in  mine  own  eyes 
I  appeared  inferior  to  many  amongst  the  Indians. 

When  the  last-mentioned  meeting  was  ended,  it 
being  night,,  Papunehang  went  to  bed  ;  and  one  of 
the  interpreters  sitting  by  me,  I  observed  Papune 
hang  spake  with  an  harmonious  voice,  I  suppose, 
a  minute  or  two  :  and,  asking  the  interpreter,  was 
told,  that f{  he  was  expressing  his  thankfulness  to 
God  for  the  favours  he  had  received  that  day ;  and 
prayed  that  He  would  continue  to  favour  Him  with 
that  same,  which  he  had  experienced  in  that  meet- 
ing."  Though  Papunehang  before  agreed  to  re 
ceive  the  Moravian,  and  join  with  them,  he  still 
appeared  kind  and  loving  to  us. 

On  the  twentieth  day,  I  was  at  two  meetings,  and 
silent  in  them. 

The  twenty-first  day.  This  morning,  in  meeting, 
my  heart  was  enlarged  in  pure  love  amongst  them, 
and  in  short  plain  sentences,  I  expressed  several 
things  that  rested  upon  me,  which  one  of  the  in 
terpreters  gave  the  people  pretty  readily ;  after 
which  the  meeting  ended  in  supplication,  and  I  had 
cause  humbly  to  acknowledge  the  loving-kindness 
of  the  Lord  towards  us  ;  and  then  1  believed  that  a 
door  remained  open  for  the  faithful  disciples  of 
Jesus  Christ,  to  labour  amongst  these  people. 

I  now  feeling  my  mind  at  liberty  to  return,  took 
my  leaye  of  them  in  general,  at  the  conclusion  of 


169 

what  I  said  in  meeting* ;  and  so  we  prepared  to  go 
homeward.  But  some  of  their  most  active  men  told 
us  that  when  we  were  ready  to  move,  the  people 
would  choose  to  come  and  shake  hands  with  us  ; 
which  those  who  usually  came  to  meeting  did. 
And  from  a  secret  draught  in  my  mind,  I  went 
amongst  some  who  did  not  use  to  go  to  meeting, 
and  took  my  leave  of  them  also:  and  the  Moravian 
and  his  Indian  interpreter,  appeared  respectful  to 
us  at  parting.  This  town  stands  on  the  bank  of 
the  Susquehannah,  and  consists,  I  believe,  of  about 
forty  houses,  mostly  compact  together;  some  about 
thirty  feet  long,  and  eighteen  wide,  some  bigger, 
some  less  ;  mostly  built  of  split  plank,  one  end  set 
in  the  ground,  and  the  other  pinned  to  a  plate,  on 
which  lay  rafters,  and  covered  with  bark.  I  under 
stand  a  great  flood  last  winter  overflowed  the  chief 
part  of  the  ground  where  the  town  stands;  and 
some  were  now  about  moving  their  houses  to  higher 

o  o 

ground. 

We  expected  only  two  Indians  to  be  our  com 
pany,  but  when  we  were  ready  to  go,  we  found 
many  of  them  were  going  to  Bethlehem  with  skins 
and  furs,  who  chose  to  go  in  company  with  us. 
So  they  loaded  two  canoes  which  they  desired  us 
to  go  in,  telling  us,  that  the  waters  were  so  raised 
with  the  rains,  that  the  horses  should  be  taken  by 
such  as  were  better  acquainted  with  the  fording 
places.  So  we,  with  several  Indians,  went  in  the 
canoes,,  and  others  \vent  on  horses,  there  being- 
seven  besides  ours;  and  we  meeting  with  the 
horsemen  once  on  the  way  by  appointment,  and 


170 

then  near  night,  a  little  below  a  branch  called 
Tankhannah,  we  lodged  there  ;  and  some  of  the 
young  men  going  out  a  little  before  dusk  with  their 
guns,,  brought  in  a  deer. 

On  the  twenty-second  day,  through  diligence,  we 
reached  Wioming  before  night,  and  understood  the 
Indians  were  mostly  gone  from  this  place.  Here 
we  went  up  a  small  creek  into  the  woods  with  our 
canoes,  and  pitching  our  tent,  carried  out  our  bag 
gage;  and  before  dark  our  horses  came  to  us. 

On  the  twenty-third  day  in  the  morning  their 
horses  were  loaded,  and  we  prepared  our  baggage 
and  so  set  forward,  being  in  all  fourteen  ;  and  with 
diligent  travelling,  were  favoured  to  get  near  half 
way  to  Fort  Alien.  The  land  on  this  road  from 
Wioming  to  our  frontier  being  mostly  poor,  and 
good  grass,  scarce,  they  chose  apiece  of  low  ground 
to  lodge  on,  as  the  best  for  grazing;  and  I  having 
sweat  much  in  travelling,  and  being  weary,  slept 
sound ;  I  perceived  in  the  night  that  I  had  taken 
cold,  of  which  I  was  favoured  to  get  better  soon. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  we  passed  Fort  Allen, 
and  lodged  near  it  in  the  woods. 

We  forded  the  westerly  branch  of  Delaware 
three  times,  and  thereby  had  a  shorter  way,  and 
missed  going  over  the  top  of  the  blue  mountains, 
called  the  Second  Ridge.  In  the  second  time  ford 
ing,  where  the  river  cuts  through  the  mountain,  the 
waters  being  rapid  and  pretty  deep,  and  rny  com 
panion's  mare  being  a  tall  tractable  animal,  he 
sundry  times  drove  her  back  through  the  river,  and 
they  loaded  her  with  the  burdens  of  some  small 


Itl 

horses,  which  they  thought  not  sufficient  to  come 
through  with  their  loads. 

The  troubles  westward,  and  the  difficulty  for 
Indians  to  pass  through  our  frontier,  I  apprehend 
was  one  reason  why  so  many  came,  as  expecting 
that  our  being  in  company,  would  prevent  the  out 
side  inhabitants  from  being  surprized. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  day  we  reached  Bethlehem, 
taking  care  on  the  way  to  keep  foremost,  and  to 
acquaint  people  on  and  near  the  road  who  these 
Indians  were.  This  we  found  very  needful ;  for  the 
frontier  inhabitants  were  often  alarmed  at  the  report 
of  English  being  killed  by  Indians  westward. 

Amongst  our  company  were  some  whom  I  did 
not  remember  to  have  seen  at  meeting,  arid  some 
of  these  at  first  were  very  reserved;  but  we  being 
several  days  together,  and  behaving  friendly  to 
wards  them,  and  making  them  suitable  returns  for 
the  services  they  did  us,  they  became  more  free  and 
sociable. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  day  and  first  of  the  week, 
having  carefully  endeavoured  to  settle  all  affairs 
with  the  Indians  relative  to  our  journey,  we  took 
leave  of  them,  and  I  thought  they  generally  parted 
with  us  affectionately ;  so  we  getting  to  Richland, 
had  a  very  comfortable  meeting  amongst  our 
friends.  Here  I  parted  with  my  kind  friend  and 
companion  Benjamin  Parvin ;  and  accompanied 
by  my  friend  Samuel  Foulk,  we  rode  to  John  Cad- 
wallader's,  from  whence  I  reached  home  the  next 
day,  where  I  found  my  family  middling  well ;  and 
they  and  my  friends  all  along  appeared  glad  to 


172 

see  me  return  from  a  journey  which  they  appre 
hended  dangerous  ;  but  my  mind,  while  I  was  out, 
had  been  so  employed  in  striving  for  a  perfect  resig 
nation,  and  I  had  so  often  been  confirmed  in  a  belief, 
that  whatever  the  Lord  might  be  pleased  to  allot 
for  me,  would  work  for  good  ;  I  was  careful  lest  I 
should  admit  any  degree  of  selfishness  in  being  glad 
overmuch,  and  laboured  to  improve  by  those  trials 
in  such  a  manner  as  my  gracious  Father  and  Pro 
tector  intends  for  me.     Between  the  English  inha 
bitants  and  Wehaloosing,  we  had  only  a  narrow 
path,  which  in  many  places  is  much  grown  up  with 
bushes,  and  interrupted  by  abundance  of  trees  lyi rig- 
across   it,    these,    together    with    the    mountains, 
swamps,  and  rough  stones,  make  it  a  difficult  road 
to  travel ;  and  the  more  so,  for  that  rattlesnakes 
abound  there,  of  which  we  killed  four.     That  peo 
ple  who  have  never  been  in  such  places,  have  but 
an  imperfect  idea  of  them  ;   but   I    was  not  only 
taught  patience,  but  also  made  thankful  to  God, 
who  thus  led  me  about  and  instructed  me,  that  I 
might  have  a  quick  and  lively  feeling  of  the  atHic- 
tions  of  my  fellow-creatures,  whose  situation  in  life 
is  difficult. 


173 


CHAP.  IX. 

His  religious  conversation  with  a  company  met  to 
see  the  tricks  of  a  jugler. — His  account  of  John 
Smith's  advice,  and  of  the  proceedings  of  a  com 
mittee,  at  the  yearly  meeting  in  1764. — Contem 
plations  on  the  nature  of  true  wisdom,  occasioned 
by  hearing  of  the  cruelty  of  the  Indians  to  their 
captives. — His  visiting  the  families  of  friends  at 
Mount    Holly,    Mansfield,   and    Burlington,    in 
1764,  and  the  meetings  on  the  Sea  coast  from 
Cape  May  towards  Squan  in  1765. — FJis  visit  to 
the  lower  counties  on  Delaware,  and  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland  in  1166,  in  company  with  John 
Sleeper;  with  some  account  of  Joseph  Nichols  and 
his  followers ;   and  observations  on  the  different 
state  of  the  first  settlers  in  Pennsylvania  who  de 
pended  on  their  ozvn  labour,  and  those  of  the  south 
ern  provinces  who  kept  negroes. — His  visiting  the 
northern  parts  of  New  Jersey  the  same  year,  and 
the  western  parts  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 
in  1161,  and  afterwards  other  parts  of  Pennsyl 
vania  and  the  families  of  friends  at  Mount  Holly; 
and  again  several  parts  of  Maryland  in  1768. — 
Further   Considerations  on  keeping  Slaves;  and 
his  concern  for  having  formerly,  as  an  executor, 
been  party  to  the  sale  of  one;  and  what  he  did 
in  consequence  of  it. — Thoughts  on  friends  exer 
cising  offices  in  civil  government. 

THE  latter  part  of  the  summer,  1763,  there  came 
a  man  to  Mount  Holly,  who  had  before  published 


.     174 

by  a  printed  advertisement,  that  at  a  certain  public- 
house,  he  would  show  many  wonderful  operations, 
which  he  therein  enumerated. 

This  man,  at  the  time  appointed,  did,  by  slight 
of  hand,  sundry  things;  which,,  to  those  gathered, 
appeared  strange. 

The  next  day,  I  hearing  of  it,  and  understanding 
that  the  show  was  to  be  continued  the  next  night, 
and  the  people  to  meet  about  sunset,  felt  an  exer 
cise  on  that  account.  So  I  went  to  the  public- 
house  in  the  evening,  and  told  the  man  of  the  house 
that  I  had  an  inclination  to  spend  a  part  of  the 
evening  there;  with  which  he  signified  that  he  was 
content.  Then  sitting  down  by  the  door,  I  spoke 
to  the  people  as  they  came  together,  concerning 
this  show ;  and  more  corning  and  sitting  down  with 
us,  the  seats  at  the  door  were  mostly  filled ;  and  I 
had  conversation  with  them  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
and  laboured  to  convince  them  that  thus  assembling 
to  see  those  tricks  or  slights  of  hand,  and  bestowing 
their  money  to  support  men  who  in  that  capacity 
•were  of  no  use  in  the  world,  was  contrary  to  the 
nature  of  the  Christian  religion. 

There  was  one  of  the  company  who,  for  a  time, 
endeavoured  by  arguments  to  show  the  reasonable 
ness  of  their  proceedings  herein ;  but  after  consider 
ing  some  texts  of  scripture,  and  calmly  debating  the 
matter,  he  gave  up  the  point.  So  having  spent 
about  an  hour  amongst  them,  and  feeling  my  mind 
easy,  I  departed. 

At  our  yearly  meeting  at  Philadelphia,  on  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  1764,  John 


175 

Smith  of  Marlborough,   aged   upwards   of  eighty 
years,  a   faithful    minister,    though   not   eloquent, 
stood  up  in  our  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders, 
and  appearing  to  be  under  a  great  exercise  of  spirit, 
informed  friends  in  substance  as  follows :    to  wit, 
ce  That  he  had  been  a  member  of  our  society  up 
wards  of  sixty  years,  and  well  remembered  that  in 
those  early  times  friends  were  a  plain  lowly-minded 
people ;  and  that  there  was  much  tenderness  and 
contrition  in  their  meetings. — That  at  twenty  years 
from  that  time,  the  society  increasing  in  wealth, 
and  in  some  degree  conforming  to  the  fashions  of 
the  world,   true  humility   was   less  apparent,  and 
their  meetings  in  general  not  so  lively  and  edifying. 
—That  at  the  end  of  forty  years,  many  of  them  were 
grown   very  rich  ;    that  wearing    fine  costly   gar 
ments,  and  using  silver  (and  other)    watches,   be 
came  customary  with  them,  their  sons  and   their 
daughters,  and  many  of  the  society  made  a  specious 
appearance  in  the  world ;  which  marks  of  outward 
wealth  and  greatness,  appeared  on   some  in   our 
meetings  of  ministers   and  elders  ;    and  as  these 
things    became  more  prevalent,    so    the  powerful 
overshadowings  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were  less  mani 
fest  in  the  Society. — That  there  had  been  a  con 
tinued  increase  of  these  ways  of  life  even  until  now; 
and  that  the  weakness  which  hath  now  overspread 
the  society,  and  the  barrenness  manifest  amongst 
us,  is  matter  of  much  sorrow."     He  then  mentioned 
the  uncertainty  of  his  attending  these  meetings  in 
future,  expecting  his  dissolution  was  now  near;  and 
having  tenderly  expressed  his  concern  for  us,  signified 


-176 

that  he  had  seen  in  the  true  light,  that  the  Lord 
would  bring  back  his  people  from  these  things  into 
which  they  were  thus  degenerated,,  but  that  his 
faithful  servants  must  first  go  through  great  and 
heavy  exercises  therein. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  day,  the  committee  ap 
pointed  by  the  yearly  meeting  to  visit  the  quarterly 
and  monthly  meetings,  gave  an  account  in  writing 
of  their  proceedings  in  that  service  ;  in  which  they 
signified,  that  in  the  course  of  it,  they  had  been  appre 
hensive  that  some  persons  holding  offices  in  govern 
ment,  inconsistent  with  our  principles ;  and  others 
who  kept  slaves,  remaining  active  members  in  our 
meetings  for  discipline,  had  been  one  means  of  weak 
ness  more  and  more  prevailing  in  the  management 
thereof  in  some  places.  After  this  report  was  read, 
an  exercise  revived  on  my  mind,  which,  at  times, 
had  attended  me  several  years,  and  inward  cries  to 
the  Lord  were  raised  in  me,  that  the  fear  of  man 
might  not  prevent  me  from  doing  what  he  required 
of  me ;  and  standing  up,  I  spoke  in  substance  as 
follows:  "  I  have  felt  a  tenderness  in  my  mind 
towards  persons,  in  two  circumstances  mentioned 
in  that  report ;  that  is,  towards  such  active  members 
who  keep  slaves,  and  such  who  hold  offices  in  civil 
government ;  and  have  desired,  that  friends  in  all 
their  conduct  may  be  kindly  affectioned  one  toward 
another.  Many  friends,  who  keep  slaves,  are  under 
some  exercise  on  that  account ;  and  at  times,  think 
about  trying  them  with  freedom  ;  but  find  many 
things  in  their  way.  And  the  way  of  living,  and 
annual  expenses  of  some  of  them  are  such,  that  it 


177 

seems  impracticable  for  them  to  set  their  slaves 
free,,  without  changing  their  own  way  of  life.  It 
has  been  my  lot  to  be  often  abroad  :  and  I  have 
observed  in  some  places,  at  quarterly  and  yearly 
meetings,  and  at  some  houses  where  travelling 
friends  and  their  horses  are  often  entertained,,  that 
the  yearly  expense  of  individuals  therein  is  very 
considerable.  And  friends  in  some  places  crowding 
much  on  persons  in  these  circumstances  for  enter 
tainment,  hath  often  rested  as  a  burden  on  my  mind 
for  some  years  past ;  and  I  now  express  it  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  greatly  desiring  that  friends  now 
present  may  duly  consider  it." 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  having  hired  a  man  to 
work,  I  perceived  in  conversation  that  he  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  late  war  on  this  continent ;  and  in 
the  evening,  giving  a  narrative  of  his  captivity 
amongst  the  Indians,  he  informed  me  that  he  saw 
two  of  his  fellow  captives  tortured  to  death  in  a  very 
cruel  manner. 

This  relation  affected  me  with  sadness,  under 
which  I  went  to  bed;  and  the  next  morning,  soon 
after  I  awoke,  a  fresh  arid  living  sense  of  divine 
love  was  spread  over  my  mind  ;  in  which  I  had  a 
renewed  prospect  of  the  nature  of  that  wisdom  from 
above,  which  leads  to  a  right  use  of  all  gifts,  both 
spiritual  and  temporal,  and  gives  content  therein. 
Under  a  feeling  thereof,  I  wrote  as  follows : 

"  Hath  He,  who  gave  me  a  being  attended  with 
many  wants  unknown  to  brute  creatures,  given  rne 
a  capacity  superior  to  theirs  ?  and  shown  me  that  a 
moderate  application  to  business  is  proper  to  my 

31 


178 

present  condition ;  and  that  this,  attended  with  his 
blessing,  may  supply  all  outward  wants,,  while  they 
remain  within  the  bounds  He  hath  fixed  ;  and  that 
no  imaginary  wants  proceeding  from  an  evil  spirit, 
should  have  any  place  in  me?  Attend  then,  O  my 
soul!  to  this  pure  wisdom,  as  thy  sure  conductor 
through  the  manifold  dangers  in  this  world  ! 

f<  Doth  pride  lead  to  vanity  ?  Doth  vanity  form 
imaginary  wants?  Do  these  wants  prompt  men  to 
exert  their  power  in  requiring  thai  of  others,  which 
themselves  would  rather  be  excused  from,  were  the 
same  required  of  them  ? 

"Do  those  proceedings  beget  hard  thoughts? 
Do  hard  thoughts,  when  ripe,  become  malice  ? 
Does  malice,  when  ripe,  become  revengeful ;  and 
in  the  end  inflict  terrible  pains  on  their  fellow-crea 
tures,  and  spread  desolations  in  the  world  ? 

"  Do  mankind,  walking  in  uprightness,  delight 
in  each  other's  happiness  ?  And  do  these  creatures, 
capable  of  this  attainment,  by  giving  way  to  an  evil 
spirit,  employ  their  wit  and  strength  to  afflict  and 
destroy  one  another? 

"  Remember  then/  O  my  soul !  the  quietude  of 
those  in  whom  Christ  governs,  and  in  ail  thy  pro 
ceedings  feel  after  it ! 

(c  Doth  He  condescend  to  bless  thee  with  his  pre 
sence  ?  To  move  and  influence  to  action  ?  To 
dwell  in  thee,  and  walk  in  thee?  Remember  then 
thy  station,  as  a  being  sacred  to  God.  Accept  of  the 
strength  freely  offered  thee ;  and  take  heed  that  no 
weakness,  in  conforming  to  expensive,  unwise,  and 
hard-hearted  customs,  gendering  to  discord  and 


179 

strife,  be  given  way  to.  Doth  He  claim  my  body  as 
his  temple,  and  graciously  grant  that  1  may  be 
sacred  to  Him  ?  Oh  !  that  I  may  prize  this  favour  ; 
and  that  my  whole  life  may  be  conformable  to  this 
character ! 

"  Remember,  O  my  soul !  that  the  prince  of  peace 
is  thy  Lord  ;  that  He  communicates  his  unmixed 
wisdom  to  his  family ;  that  they,,  living  in  perfect 
simplicity,  may  give  no  just  cause  of  offence  to  any 
creature,  but  may  walk  as  He  walked !" 

Having  felt  an  openness  in  my  heart  toward  visit 
ing  families  in  our  own  meeting,  and  especially  in 
the  town  of  Mount  Holly,  the  place  of  my  abode,  I 
mentioned  it  in  our  monthly  meeting  the  forepart 
of  the  winter  1764;  which  being  agreed  to,  and  se 
veral  friends  of  our  meeting  being  united  in  the 
exercise,  we  proceeded  therein  ;  and  through  divine 
favour  were  helped  in  the  work,  so  that  it  appeared 
to  me  as  a  fresh  reviving  of  godly  care  amongst 
friends;  and  the  latter  part  of  the  same  winter,  I 
joined  my  friend  William  Jones,  in  a  visit  to 
friends'  families  in  Mansfield  ;  in  which  labour,  I 
had  cause  to  admire  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  to 
ward  us. 

Having  felt  my  mind  drawn  toward  a  visit  to 
friends  along  the  sea-coast  from  Cape  May  to  near 
Squan  ;  and  also  to  visit  some  people  in  those  parts, 
amongst  whom  there  is  no  settled  worship;  I  joined 
with  my  beloved  friend  Benjamin  Jones,  in  a  visit 
there,  having  friends'  unity  therein.  And  setting  off 
the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  tenth  month,  1765,  we 
had  a  prosperous  and  very  satisfactory  journey  ; 

M  '  2 


ISO 

feeling  at  times,,  through  the  goodness  of  the  hea 
venly  Shepherd,  the  gospel  to  flow  freely  toward  a 
poor  people  scattered  in  those  places.  And  soon 
after  our  return,  I  joined  my  friends  John  Sleeper 
and  Elizabeth  Smith,  in  visiting  friends'  families  at 
Burlington,  there  being  at  this  time  about  fifty 
families  of  our  society  in  that  city  ;  and  we  had 
cause  humbly  to  adore  our  heavenly  Father,  who 
baptized  us  into  a  feeling  of  the  state  of  the  people, 
and  strengthened  us  to  labour  in  true  gospel  love 
amongst  them. 

An  exercise  having,  at  times,  for  several  years 
attended  me,  in  regard  to  paying  a  religious  visit  to 
friends  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  ;  such 
was  the  nature  of  this  exercise,  that  1  believed  the 
Lord  moved  me  to  travel  on  foot  amongst  them, 
that  by  so  travelling  I  might  have  a  more  lively 
feeling  of  the  condition  of  the  oppressed  slaves,  set 
an  example  of  lowliness  before  the  eyes  of  their 
masters,  and  be  more  out  of  the  way  of  temptation 
to  unprofitable  converse. 

The  time  now  drawing  near  in  which  I  believed 
it  my  duty  to  lay  my  concern  before  our  monthly 
meeting,  I  perceived  in  conversation  with  my  be 
loved  friend  John  Sleeper,  that  he  was  under  a  con 
cern  to  travel  the  same  way,  and  also  to  travel  on 
foot  in  the  form  of  a  servant  amongst  them,  as  he 
expressed  it,  This  he  told  me  before  he  knew  aught 
of  my  exercise. 

We  being  thus  drawn  the  same  way,  laid  our 
exercise  and  the  nature  of  it  before  friends  ;  and 
obtaining  certificates,  we  set  off  the  sixth  day  of 


181 

the  fifth  month,  1766 ;  and  were  at  meetings  with 
friends  at  Wilmington,  Duck  Creek,  Little  Creek 
and  Motherkill ;  my  heart  being  sundry  times  ten 
dered  under  the  divine  influence.,  and  enlarged  in 
love  toward  the  people  amongst  whom  we  travelled. 

From  Motherkill,  we  crossed  the  country  about 
thirty-five  miles  to  friends  at  Tuckahoe  in  Mary 
land,  and  had  a  meeting  there  and  at  Marshy 
Creek. 

At  these,  our  three  last  meetings,  were  a  consi 
derable  number  of  people,  followers  of  one  Joseph 
Nichols,  a  preacher ;  who,  I  understand,  is  not  in 
outward  fellowship  with  any  religious  society  of 
people,  but  professeth  nearly  the  same  principles  as 
our  society  doth,  and  often  travels  up  and  down 
appointing  meetings,  to  which  many  people  come. 
1  heard  some  friends  speaking  of  some  of  their 
neighbours,  who  had  been  irreligious  people,  that 
were  now  his  followers,  and  were  become  sober, 
well-behaved  men  and  women. 

Some  irregularities,  I  hear,  have  been  amongst 
the  people  at  several  of  his  meetings  ;  but  from  the 
whole  of  what  I  have  perceived,  I  believe  the  man 
and  some  of  his  followers,  are  honestly  disposed, 
but  that  skilful  fathers  are  wanting  among  them. 
From  hence  we  went  to  Choptank  and  Third  Ha 
ven  ;  and  thence  to  Queen  Anne's.  The  weather 
having  some  days  past  been  hot  and  dry,  and  we 
to  attend  meetings  pursuant  to  appointment, 
having  travelled  prelty  steadily,  and  had  hard  labour 
in  meetings,  I  grew  weakly  ;  at  which  I  was  for  a 
time  discouraged  ;  but  looking  over  our  journey, 


182 

and  thinking  how  the  Lord  had  supported  our 
minds  and  bodies,  so  that  we  got  forward  much 
faster  than  I  expected  before  we  came  out,  I  now 
saw  that  I  had  been  in  danger  of  too  strongly  de 
siring  to  get  soon  through  the  journey,  and  that 
this  bodily  weakness  now  attending  me  was  a  kind 
ness  to  me  ;  and  then,  in  contrition  of  spirit,  I  be 
came  very  thankful  to  my  gracious  Father,  for  this 
manifestation  of  his  love  ;  and  in  humble  submis 
sion  to  his  will,  my  trust  was  renewed  in  Him. 

On  this  part  of  our  journey,  I  had  many  thoughts 
on  the  different  circumstances  of  friends  who  inhabit 
Pennsylvania  and  Jersey,  from  those  who  dwell  in 
Maryland,,  Virginia,  and  Carolina.  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey  were  settled  by  many  friends,  who 
were  convinced  of  our  principles  in  England  in 
times  of  sufferings,  and  coming  over,  bought  lands 
of  the  natives,  and  applied  themselves  to  husbandry 
in  a  peaceable  way;  and  many  of  their  children 
were  taught  to  labour  for  their  living. 

Few  friends,  I  believe,  came  from  England  to 
settle  in  any  of  these  southern  provinces ;  but  by 
the  faithful  labours  of  travelling  friends  in  early 
times,  there  were  considerable  convincements  a- 
mongst  the  inhabitants  of  these  parts.  Here  I  re 
membered  my  reading  of  the  warlike  disposition  of 
many  of  the  first  settlers  in  those  provinces,  and  of 
their  numerous  engagements  with  the  natives,  in 
which  much  blood  was  shed,  even  in  the  infancy 
of  those  colonies.  These  people,  inhabiting  those 
places,  being  grounded  in  customs  contrary  to  the 
pure  truth,  when  some  of  them  were  affected  with 


183 

the  powerful  preaching-  of  the  Word  of  Life,  and 
joined  in  fellowship  with  our  society,  they  had  a 
great  work  to  go  through.     It  is  observable  in  the 
History  of  the  Reformation  from  Popery,  that  it 
had  a  gradual  progress  from  age  to  age.     The  up 
rightness  of  the  first  reformers,  in  attending  to  the 
light  and  understanding  given  them,  opened  the 
way  for  sincere-hearted  people  to  proceed  further 
afterward  ;  and  thus  each  one  truly  fearing  God, 
and  labouring  in  those  works  of  righteousness  ap 
pointed  for  him  in  his  day,  findeth  acceptance  with 
him.     Though,  through  the  darkness  of  the  times, 
and  the  corruption  of  manners  and  customs,  some 
upright  men  may  have  had  little  more  for  their  day's 
work  than  to  attend  to  the  righteous  principle  in 
their  minds,  as  it  related  to  their  own  conduct  in  life, 
without  pointing  out  to  others  the  whole  extent  of 
that,  which  the  same  principle  would  lead  succeed 
ing  ages  into.     Thus,  for  instance,  amongst  an  im 
perious  warlike  people,  supported   by    oppressed 
slaves,  some  of  these  masters,  I  suppose,  are  awak 
ened  to  feel  and  see  their  error ;  and,  through  sin 
cere  repentance,  cease  from  oppression,  and  become 
like   fathers  to  their  servants ;    showing,  by  their 
example,  a  pattern  of  humility  in  living,  and  mode 
ration  in  governing,  for  the  instruction  and  admo 
nition  of  their  oppressing  neighbours  ;  these  with 
out  carrying  the  reformation  further,  I  believe  have 
found  acceptance  with  the  Lord.     Such  was  the 
beginning ;  and   those  who  succeeded  them,  and 
have  faithfully  attended  to  the  nature  and  spirit  of 
the  reformation,  have  seen  the  necessity  of  proceed- 


184 

ing  forward  ;  have  not  only  to  instruct  others,  by 
their  example,  in  governing  well,  but  also  to  use 
means  to  prevent  their  successors  from  having  so 
much  power  to  oppress  others. 

Here  I  was  renewedly  confirmed  in  my  rnirid, 
that  the  Lord  (whose  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his 
works,  and  whose  ear  is  open  to  the  cries  and  groans 
of  the  oppressed)  is  graciously  moving  on  the  hearts 
of  people,  to  draw  them  off  from  the  desire  of 
wealth,  and  bring  them  into  such  an  humble,  lowly 
way  of  living,  that  they  may  see  their  way  clearly, 
to  repair  to  the  standard  of  true  righteousness  ;  and 
not  only  break  the  yoke  of  oppression,  but  know 
Him  to  be  their  strength  and  support  in  time  of 
outward  affliction. 

We,  passing  on,  crossed  Chester  River;  and  had 
a  meeting  there,  and  at  Cecil  and  Sassafras. 
Through  niy  bodily  weakness,  joined  with  a  heavy 
exercise  of  rnind,  it  was  to  rne  an  humbling  dis 
pensation,  and  I  had  a  very  lively  feeling  of  the 
state  of  the  oppressed  ;  yet  I  often  thought,  that 
what  I  suffered  was  little,  compared  with  the  suf 
ferings  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  and  many  of  his  faith 
ful  followers ;  and  may  say  with  thankfulness,  I 
was  made  content. 

From  Sassafras  we  went  pretty  directly  home, 
where  we  found  our  families  well ;  and  for  several 
weeks  after  our  return,  I  had  often  to  look  over  our 
journey ;  and  though  to  me  it  appeared  as  a  small 
service,  and  that  some  faithful  messengers  will  yet 
have  more  bitter  cups  to  drink  in  those  southern 
provinces  for  Christ's  sake  than  we  had  ;  yet  I 


185 

found  peace  in  that  I  had  been  helped  to  walk  in 
sincerity,  according  to  the  understanding  arid 
strength  given  me. 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  eleventh  month, 
1766,  with  the  unity  of  friends  at  our  monthly 
meeting,  in  company  with  my  beloved  friend  Ben 
jamin  Jones,  I  set  out  on  a  visit  to  friends  in  the 
upper  part  of  this  province,  having  had  drawings 
of  love  in  my  heart  that  way  a  considerable  time. 
We  travelled  as  far  as  Hardvvick,  and  I  had  inward 
peace  in  my  labours  of  love  amongst  them. 

Through  the  humbling  dispensations  of  Divine 
Providence,  my  mind  hath  been  brought  into  a 
further  feeling  of  the  difficulties  of  friends  and  their 
servants  south-westward ;  and  being  often  engaged 
in  spirit  on  their  account,  I  believed  it  my  duty  to 
walk  in  to  some  parts  of  the  western  shore  of  Mary 
land,  on  a  religious  visit.  And  having  obtained  a 
certificate  from  friends  of  our  monthly  meeting,  I 
took  my  leave  of  my  family  under  the  heart-tender 
ing  operation  of  truth;  and  on  the  twentieth  day  of 
the  fourth  month,  1767,  I  rode  to  the  ferry  oppo 
site  to  Philadelphia,  and  from  thence  walked  to 
William  Home's,  at  Derby,  that  evening  ;  and  next 
day  pursued  my  journey  alone,  and  reached  Concord 
weekday  meeting. 

Discouragements  and  a  weight  of  distress  had,  at 
times,  attended  me  in  this  lonesome  walk,  through 
which  afflictions,  I  was  mercifully  preserved.  And 
now  sitting  down  with  friends,  my  mind  was  turned 
toward  the  Lord,  to  wait  for  his  holy  leadings,  who 
in  infinite  love  was  pleased  to  soften  my  heart  into 


186 

humble  contrition,  and  did  renewcdiy  strengthen 
me  to  go  forward,  that  to  me  it  was  a  time  of  hea 
venly  refreshment  in  a  silent  meeting. 

The  next  day  I  came  to  New  Garden  weekday 
meeting,  in  which  I  sat  with  bowedness  of  spirit  ; 
and  being  baptized  into  a  feeling  of  the  state  of 
some  present,  the  Lord  gave  us  a  heart-tendering 
season  ;  to  his  name  be  the  praise. 

I  passed  on,  and  was  at  Nottingham  monthly 
meeting ;  and  at  a  meeting  at  Little  Britain  on  first 
day ;  and  in  the  afternoon  several  friends  came  to 
the  house  where  I  lodged,  and  we  had  a  little  after 
noon  meeting ;  and  through  the  humbling  power 
of  truth,  I  had  to  admire  the  loving  kindness  of  the 
Lord  manifested  to  us. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  day,  I  crossed  the  Susque- 
hannah,and  corning  amongst  people  in  outward  ease 
and  greatness,  supported  chiefly  on  the  labour  of 
slaves,  my  heart  was  much  affected  ;  and  in  awful 
retiredness,  my  mind  was  gathered  inward  to  the 
Lord,  being  humbly  engaged  that  in  true  resigna 
tion  I  might  receive  instruction  from  Him,  respect 
ing  my  duty  amongst  this  people. 

Though  travelling  on  foot  was  wearisome  to  my 
body,  yet  thus  travelling  was  agreeable  to  the  state 
of  my  mind. 

I  went  gently  on,  being  weakly,  and  was  covered 
with  sorrow  and  heaviness,  on  account  of  the 
spreading,  prevailing  spirit  of  this  world,  introduc 
ing  customs  grievous  and  oppressive  on  one  hand, 
and  cherishing  pride  and  wantonness  on  the  other. 
In  this  lonely  walk,  and  state  of  abasement  and  hu- 


18? 

initiation,  the  state  of  the  church  in  these  parts  was 
opened  before  me  ;  and  I  may  truly  say  with  the 
prophet,  "  I  was  bowed  down  at.  the  hearing  of  it  ; 
I  was  dismayed  at  the  seeing  of  it."  Under  this 
exercise,  I  attended  the  quarterly  meeting  at  Gun 
powder  ;  and  in  bowedriess  of  spirit,  I  had  to  open, 
with  much  plainness,  what  I  felt  respecting  friends 
living  in  fulness,  on  the  labours  of  the  poor  op 
pressed  negroes  ;  and  that  promise  of  the  Most  High 
was  now  revived  :  "I  will  gather  ail  nations  and 
tongues ;  and  they  shall  corne  and  see  my  glory." 
Here  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  his  tasting  death 
for  every  man,  and  the  travels,  sufferings,  and  mar 
tyrdoms  of  the  apostles,  and  primitive  Christians,  in 
labouring  for  the  conversion  of  the  gentiles,  was 
livingly  revived  in  me  ;  and  according  to  the  mea 
sure  of  strength  afforded,  I  laboured  in  some  ten 
derness  of  spirit,  being  deeply  affected  amongst 
them  ;  and  thus  the  difference  between  the  present 
treatment  which  these  gentiles  the  negroes  receive 
at  our  hands,  and  the  labours  of  the  primitive 
Christians  for  the  conversion  of  the  gentiles,  were 
pressed  home,  and  the  power  of  truth  came  over 
us  ;  under  a  feeling  of  which,  my  mind  was  united 
to  a  tender-hearted  people  in  those  parts  ;  and  the 
meeting  concluded  in  a  sense  of  God's  goodness 
toward  his  humble,  dependent  children. 

The  next  day  was  a  general  meeting  for  worship, 
much  crowded,  in  which  I  was  deeply  engaged  in 
inward  cries  to  the  Lord  for  help,  that  I  might  stand 
wholly  resigned,  and  move  only  as  He  might  be 
pleased  to  lead  me.  And  I  was  mercifully  helped 


188 

to  labour  honestly  and  fervently  amongst  them,  in 
•which  I  found  inward  peace,  and  the  sincere  were 
comforted. 

Prom  hence  I  turned  towards  Pipe  Creek,,  and 
passed  on  to  the  Red  Lands,  and  had  several  meet 
ings  amongst  friends  in  those  parts.  My  heart  was 
often  tenderly  affected,  under  a  sense  of  the  Lord's 
goodness,  in  sanctifying  my  troubles  and  exercises, 
turning  them  to  my  comfort,  and,  I  believe,  to  the 
benefit  of  many  others  ;  for,  I  may  say  with  thank 
fulness,  that  in  this  visit,  it  appeared  like  a  fresh 
tendering  visitation  in  most  places. 

I  passed  on  to  the  western  quarterly  meeting  in 
Pennsylvania.  During  the  several  days  of  this  meet 
ing,  I  was  mercifully  preserved  in  an  inward  feeling 
after  the  mind  of  truth,  and  my  public  labours 
tended  to  my  humiliation,  with  which  I  was  con 
tent.  After  the  quarterly  meeting  of  worship 
ended,  I  felt  drawings  to  go  to  the  women's  meet 
ing  of  business,  which  was  very  full ;  and  here  the 
humility  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  a  pattern  for  us  to 
walk  by,  was  livingly  opened  before  me  ;  and  in 
treating  on  it  my  heart  was  enlarged,  and  it  was  a 
baptizing  time.  From  hence  I  went  on,  and  was 
at  meetings  at  Concord,  Middletown,  Providence, 
and  Haddon field,  and  so  home,  where  I  found  my 
family  well.  A  sense  of  the  Lord's  merciful  pre 
servation  in  this  my  journey,  excites  reverent  thank 
fulness  to  Him. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  ninth  month,  1767, 
with  the  unity  of  friends,  I  set  off'  on  a  visit  to 
friends  in  the  upper  part  of  Berks  and  Philadelphia 


189 

counties  ;  was  at  eleven  meetings  in  about  two 
weeks,  and  have  renewed  cause  to  bow  in  rever 
ence  before  the  Lord,  who,  by  the  powerful  ex- 
tendings  of  his  humbling  goodness,  opened  my 
way  amongst  friends,  and  made  the  meetings  (I 
trust)  profitable  to  us.  And  the  winter  following, 
I  joined  friends  on  a  visit  to  friends'  fanilies,  in  some 
part  of  our  meeting,  in  which  exercise,  the  pure  in 
fluence  of  divine  love,  made  our  visits  reviving. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  the  fifth  month,  1768,  I  left 
home,  under  the  humbling  hand  of  the  Lord,  hav 
ing  obtained  a  certificate,  in  order  to  visit  some 
meetings  in  Maryland  ;  and  to  proceed  without  a 
horse  looked  clearest  to  me.  I  was  at  the  quarterly 
meetings  at  Philadelphia  and  Concord ;  and  then 
went  on  to  Chester  River ;  and  crossing  the  bay 
with  friends,  was  at  the  yearly  meeting  at  West 
River  ;  thence  back  to  Chester  River,  and  taking  a 
few  meetings  in  my  way,  proceeded  home.  It  was  a 
journey  of  much  inward  waiting,  and  as  my  eye  was 
to  the  Lord,  way  was  several  times  opened  to  my 
humbling  admiration,  when  things  had  appeared 
very  difficult. 

In  my  return,  I  felt  a  relief  of  mind  very  comfort 
able  to  me,  having,  through  divine  help,  laboured 
in  much  plainness,  both  with  friends  selected,  and 
in  the  more  public  meetings ;  so  that  (I  trust)  the 
pure  witness,  in  many  rninds,  was  reached. 

The  eleventh  day  of  the  sixth  month,  1769.  Sun 
dry  cases  have  happened  of  late  years,  within  the 
limits  of  our  monthly  meeting,  respecting  that  of 


190 

exercising  pure  righteousness  toward  the  negroes, 
in  which  I  have  lived  under  a  labour  of  heart,,  that 
equity  might  be  steadily  kept  to.  On  this  account, 
I  have  had  some  close  exercises  amongst  friends, 
in  which,  I  may  thankfully  say,  I  find  peace.  And 
as  my  meditations  have  been  on  universal  love,  my 
own  conduct  in  time  past,  became  of  late  very 
grievous  to  me. 

As  persons  setting  negroes  free  in  our  province, 
are  bound  by  law  to  maintain  them,  in  case 
they  have  need  of  relief ;  some  who  scrupled  keep 
ing  slaves  for  term  of  life,  in  the  time  of  my  youth, 
were  wont  to  detain  their  young  negroes  in  their 
service  till  thirty  years  of  age,  without  wages,  on 
that  account ;  and  with  this  custom  I  so  far  agreed, 
that  I,  being  joined  to  another  friend,  in  executing 
the  will  of  a  deceased  friend,  once  sold  a  negro  lad 
till  he  might  attain  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  ap 
plied  the  money  to  the  use  of  the  estate. 

With  abasement  of  heart,  I  may  now  say,  that 
sometimes,  as  I  have  sat  in  a  meeting,  with  my 
heart  exercised  toward  that  awful  Being,  who  res- 
pecteth  not  persons  nor  colours,  and  have  looked 
upon  this  lad,  I  have  felt  that  all  was  not  clear  in 
my  m'md  respecting  him  ;  and  as  I  have  attended 
to  this  exercise,  and  fervently  sought  the  Lord, 
it  hath  appeared  to  me,  that  I  should  make  some 
restitution,  but  in  what  way  I  saw  not  till  lately ; 
when  being  under  some  concern,  that  I  may  be  re 
signed  to  go  on  a  visit  to  some  part  of  the  West 
Indies ;  and  under  close  engagement  of  spirit  seek- 


191 

ing  to  the  Lord  for  counsel  herein,  that  of  my  join 
ing  in  the  sale  aforesaid,   carne  heavily  upon  me, 
and  my  mind,  for  a  time,  was  covered  with  darkness 
and  sorrow;  and  under  this  sore  affliction,  my  heart 
was  softened  to  receive  instruction.    And  here  I  first 
saw,  that  as  I  had  been  one  of  the  two  executors, 
who  had  sold  this  lad  for  nine  years  longer  than  is 
common  for  our  own  children  to  serve,  so  I  should 
now  offer  a  part  of  rny  substance  to  redeem  the  last 
half  of  that  nine  years  ;  but  as  the  time  was  not 
yet  come,  I  executed  a  bond,  binding  me  and  my 
executors,  to  pay  to  the  man  he  was  sold  to,  what 
to  candid  men  might  appear  equitable,  for  the  last 
four  years  and  a  half  of  his  time,  in  case  the  said 
youth  should  be  living,  and  in  a  condition  likely  to 
provide  comfortably  for  himself. 

The  ninth  day  of  the  tenth  month,  1769.— My 
heart  hath  often  been  deeply  afflicted  under  a  feel 
ing  I  have  had,  that  the  standard  of  pure  righteous* 
uess,  is  not  lifted  up  to  the  people  by  us,  as  a  so 
ciety,  in  that  clearness  which  it  might  have  been, 
had  we  been  so  faithful  to  the  teachings  of  Christ,  as 
we  ought  to  have  been.  And  as  my  mind  hath  been 
inward  to  the  Lord,  the  purity  of  Christ's  govern 
ment  hath  been  opened  in  my  understanding  ;  and 
under  this  exercise,  that  of  friends  being  active  in 
civil  society,  in  putting  laws  in  force  which  are  not 
agreeable  to  the  purity  of  righteousness,  hath,  for 
several  years,  been  an  increasing  burden  upon  me, 
having  felt,  in  the  opening  of  universal  love,  that 
where  a  people  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  in.* 


192 

ward  teachings  of  Christ,,  are  active  in  putting  laws 
in  execution,  which  are  not  consistent  with  pure 
wisdom,  it  hath  a  necessary  tendency  to  bring  dim 
ness  over  their  minds ;  and  as  my  heart  hath  been 
thus  exercised,  and  a  tender  sympathy  in  me  to 
ward  my  fellow  members,  I  have,  within  a  tew 
months  past,  in  several  meetings  for  discipline,  ex 
pressed  my  concern  on  this  subject. 


193 


CHAP.  X. 

Under  some  bodily  indisposition,  his  body,  by  absti 
nence,  much  weakened;  and  his  mind,  at  that 
time,  exercised  for  the  good  of  the  people  in  the 
West  Indies. —  His  afterwards  communicating  to 

friends  his  being  resigned  to  visit  some  of  these 
islands. —  The  state  of  his  mind,  and  the  close  con 
siderations  he  was  led  into,  zvhile  under  this  exer 
cise. — His  preparations  to  embark,  and  his  consi 
derations  on  the  trade  to  these  islands ;  and  his 
being,  when  the  vessel  was  ready  to  sail,  released 

from  the  concern  he  had  been  under, — His  reli 
gious  engagements  after  his  return  home. — His 
sickness,  in  which  he  was  brought  to  a  very  low 
state  ;  and  the  prospects  he  then  had. 

THE  twelfth  day  of  the  third  month. — Having  for 
some  years  past  dieted  myself  on  account  of  a  lump 
gathering  on  my  nose,  under  which  diet  I  grew 
weak  in  body,  and  not  of  ability  to  travel  by  land 
as  heretofore  ;  I  was  at  times  favoured  to  look  with 
awfulness  toward  the  Lord,  before  whom  are  all  my 
ways,  who  alone  hath  the  power  of  life  and  death  ; 
and  to  feel  thankfulness  raised  in  me  for  this  his 
fatherly  chastisement,  believing,  if  I  was  truly 
humbled  under  it,  all  would  work  for  good.  While  I 
was  under  this  bodily  weakness,  my  mind  being  at 
times  exercised  for  my  fellow-creatures  in  the  West 


194 

Indies,  I  grew  jealous  over  myself,  lest  the  dis- 
agreeableness  of  the  prospect  should  hinder  me 
from  obediently  attending  thereto ;  for  though  I 
knew  not  that  the  Lord  required  me  to  go  there, 
yet  I  believed  that  resignation  was  now  called  for 
in  that  respect.  Feeling  a  danger  of  not  being 
wholly  devoted  to  him,,  I  was  frequently  engaged 
to  watch  unto  prayer,  that  I  might  be  preserved  ; 
and  upwards  of  a  year  having  passed,,  I  walked  one 
day  in  a  solitary  wood,  my  mind  being  covered  with 
awfulness,  cries  were  raised  in  me  to  my  merciful 
Father,  that  He  would  graciously  keep  me  in  faith 
fulness  ;  and  it  then  settled  on  my  mind,  as  a  duty, 
to  open  rny  condition  to  friends  at  our  monthly 
meeting ;  which  I  did  soon  after,  as  follows  : 

se  An  exercise  hath  attended  me  for  some  time 
past,  and  of  late  been  more  weighty  upon  me, 
under  which,  I  believe  it  is  required  of  me  to  be 
resigned  to  go  on  a  visit  to  some  part  of  the  West 
Indies/'  In  the  quarterly  and  general  spring  meet 
ing,  I  found  no  clearness  to  express  any  thing  fur 
ther,  than  that  I  believed  resignation  herein  was  re 
quired  of  rne  ;  and  having  obtained  certificates  from 
all  the  said  meetings,  I  felt  like  a  sojourner  at  my 
outward  habitation,  kept  free  from  worldly  encum 
brances,  and  was  often  bowed  in  spirit  before  the 
Lord,  with  inward  breathings  to  Him,  that  I  might 
be  rightly  directed.  And  I  may  here  note,  that 
what  I  have  before  related  of  my  being,  when  young, 
joined  as  an  executor  with  another  friend,  in  exe 
cuting  the  will  of  the  deceased,  our  having  sold  a 
negro  lad  till  he  might  attain  the  age  of  thirty  years, 


195 

was  now  the  cause  of  much  sorrow  to  me ;  and 
after  having  settled  matters  relating  to  this  youth, 
I  provided  a  sea-store  arid  bed,  and  things  for  the 
voyage.  Hearing  of  a  vessel  likely  to  sail  from 
Philadelphia  for  Barbadoes,  I  spake  with  one  of  the 
owners  at  Burlington.,  and  soon  after  went  to  Phi 
ladelphia  on  purpose  to  speak  with  him  again  ;  at 
which  time  he  told  me  there  was  a  friend  in  town 
who  was  part  owner  of  the  said  vessel ;  but  I  felt  no 
inclination  to  speak  with  him,  but  returned  home  : 
and,,  a  while  after  I  took  leave  of  my  family  ;  and 
going  to  Philadelphia,  had  some  weighty  conver 
sation  with  the  first-mentioned  owner.,  and  showed 
him  a  writing,  as  follows  : 

"  On  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  eleventh  month, 
1769,  as  an  exercise,  with  respect  to  a  visit  to  Bar- 
badoes,  hath  been  weighty  on  my  mind,  I  may 
express  some  of  the  trials  which  have  attended  me 
under  these  trials,  I  have  at  times  rejoiced,  in  that 
1  have  felt  my  own  self-will  subjected. 

"  I  once,  some  years  ago,  retailed  rum,  sugar, 
and  molasses,  the  fruits  of  the  labour  of  slaves  ;  but 
then  had  not  much  concern  about  them,  save  only 
that  the  rum  might  be  used  in  moderation  ;  nor  was 
this  concern  so  weightily  attended  to  as  I  now 
believe  it  ought  to  have  been.  Of  late  years, 
being  further  informed  respecting  the  oppressions 
too  generally  exercised  in  these  islands,  and  think 
ing  often  on  the  decrees  that  are  in  connexions  of 

o  o 

interest  and  fellowship  with  the  works  of  darkness, 
Ephes.  v.  11.  ;  and  feeling  an  increasing  concern  to 
be  wholly  given  up  to  the  leadings  of  the  Holy 


196 

Spirit.,  it  hath  appeared  that  the  small  gain  I  got  by 
this  branch  of  trade  should  be  applied  in  promoting 
righteousness  on  the  earth,  and  with  this  was  the  first 
motion  to  ward  a  visit  to  Barbadoes.  I  believed  the 
outward  substance  I  possess  should  be  applied  in 
paying  my  passage,  if  I  go,  and  providing  things  in 
a  lowly  way  for  my  subsistence  ;  but  when  the  time 
drew  near,  in  which  I  believed  it  required  of 
me  to  be  in  readiness,  a  difficulty  arose  which  hath 
been  a  continued  trial  tor  some  months  past ;  under 
which  I  have,  with  abasement  of  mind,  from  day  to 
day,  sought  the  Lord  for  instruction,  and  often  had 
a  feeling  of  the  condition  of  one  formerly,  who 
bewailed  himself  for  that  the  Lord  hid  his  face 
from  him.  During  these  exercises  my  heart  hath 
been  often  contrite,  and  I  have  had  a  tender  feeling 
of  the  temptations  of  my  fellow-creatures  labouring 
under  these  expensive  customs  distinguishable  from 
the  simplicity  that  there  is  in  Christ,  2  Cor.  ii.  3. 
and  sometimes  in  the  renewings  of  gospel  love, 
have  been  helped  to  minister  to  others. 

(f  That  which  hath  so  closely  engaged  rny  mind, 
in  seeking  to  the  Lord  for  instruction,  is,  whether, 
after  so  full  information  of  the  oppression  the  slaves 
in  the  West  Indies  lie  under,  who  raise  the  West 
India  produce,  as  I  had  in  reading  a  caution  and 
warning  to  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  written  by 
Anthony  Benezet,  it  is  right  for  me  to  take  a  pas 
sage  in  a  vessel,  employed  in  the  West  India 
trade. 

fc  To  trade  freely  with  oppressors,  and  with  on  t 
labouring  to  dissuade  from  such  unkind  treatment, 


197 

to  seek  for  gain  by  such  traffic,  tends,  I  believe,  to 
make  them  more  easy  respecting  their  conduct  than, 
they  would  be,  if  the  cause  of  universal  righteous 
ness  was  humbly  and  firmly  attended  to  by  those  in 
general  with  whom  they  have  commerce  ;  and  that 
complaint  of  the  Lord  by  his  prophet,  ff  They  have 
strengthened  the  hands  of  the  wicked/'  hath  very 
often  revived  in  my  mind  ;  and  I  may  here  add 
some  circumstances  preceding  any  prospect  of  a 
visit  there.  The  case  of  David  hath  often  been 
before  me  of  late  years  :  he  longed  for  some  water 
in  a  well  beyond  an  army  of  Philistines,  at  war 
with  Israel ;  and  some  of  his  men,  to  please  him, 
ventured  their  lives  in  passing  through  this  army, 
arid  brought  that  water. 

Cf  It  doth  not  appear  that  the  Israelites  were  then 
scarce  of  water,  but  rather  that  David  gave  way  to 
delicacy  of  taste  ;  but  having  thought  on  the  danger 
these  men  were  exposed  to,  he  considered  this  water 
as  their  blood,  and  his  heart  smote  him  that  he  could 
not  drink  it,  but  pour  it  out  to  the  Lord.  And  the 
oppression  of  the  slaves,  which  I  have  seen  in  seve 
ral  journies  southward  on  this  continent,  and  the 
report  of  their  treatment  in  the  West  Indies,  hath 
deeply  affected  me;  and  a  care  to  live  in  the  spirit 
of  peace,  and  minister  just  cause  of  offence  to  none 
of  rny  fellow-creatures,  hath,  from  time  to  time, 
livingly  revived  on  my  mind;  and,  under  this  exer 
cise,  I,  for  some  years  past,  declined  to  gratify  my 
palate  with  those  sugars. 

Cf  I  do  not  censure  my  brethren  in  these  things  ; 
but  believe  the  Father  of  Mercies,   to  whom  all 


198 

mankind  by  creation  are  equally  related,  hath  heard 
the  groans  of  this  oppressed  people,  and  is  preparing 
some  to  have  a  tender  feeling  of  their  condition ; 
and  the  trading  in,  or  frequent  use  of,  any  produce 
known  to  be  raised  by  the  labours  of  those  who  are 
under  such  lamentable  oppression,  hath  appeared  to 
be  a  subject  which  may  yet  more  require  the  serious 
consideration  of  the  humble  followers  of  Christ,  the 
Prince  of  peace. 

f{  After  long  and  mournful  exercise,  I  am  now 
free  to  mention  how  things  have  opened  in  my 
mind,  with  desires  that  if  it  may  please  the  Lord  to 
further  open  his  will  to  any  of  his  children  in  this 
matter,  they  may  faithfully  follow  Him  in  such  fur 
ther  manifestation. 

c(  The  number  of  those  who  decline  the  use  of 
the  West  India  produce,  on  account  of  the  hard 
usage  of  the  slaves  who  raise  it,  appears  small,  even 
amongst  people  truly  pious  ;  and  the  labours  in 
Christian  love,  on  that  subject,  of  those  who  do,  are 
not  very  extensive. 

"  Were  the  trade  from  this  continent  to  the  West 
Indies  to  be  quite  stopped  at  once,  I  believe  many 
there  would  suffer  for  want  of  bread. 

"  Did  we  on  this  continent,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  West  Indies,  generally  dwell  in  pure  righte 
ousness,  I  believe  a  small  trade  between  us  might 
be  right.  Under  these  considerations,  when  the 
thoughts  of  wholly  declining  the  use  of  trading 
vessels,  and  of  trying  to  hire  a  vessel  to  go  under 
ballast,  have  arisen  in  my  mind,  I  have  believed 
that  the  labours  in  gospel  love,  yet  bestowed  in  the 


199 

cause  of  universal  righteousness,  are  riot  arrived  to 
that  height. 

"  If  the  trade  to  the  West  Indies  were  no  more 
than  was  consistent  with  pure  wisdom,  I  believe 
the  passage-money  would,  for  good  reasons,,  be 
higher  than  it  is  now;  and  here,,  under  deep  ex 
ercise  of  mind,,  I  have  believed  that  I  should  not 
take  advantage  of  this  great  trade  and  small  pas 
sage-money  ;  but,  as  a  testimony  in  favour  of  less 
trading,  should  pay  more  than  is  common  for  others 
to  pay.,  if  I  go  at  this  time." 

The  first  mentioned  owner  having  read  the  paper, 
expressed  a  willingness  to  go  with  me  to  the  other 
owner ;  and  we  going,  the  said  other  owner  read 
over  the  paper,  and  we  had  some  solid  conversation, 
under  which  I  felt  myself  bowed  in  reverence  before 
the  Most  High :  and  at  length  one  of  them  asked 
me  if  I  would  go  and  see  the  vessel.  But  I  had 
not  clearness  in  my  mind  to  go ;  but  went  to  my 
lodging,  and  retired  in  private. 

I  was  nowr  under  great  exercise  of  mind  ;  and  my 
tears  were  poured  out  before  the  Lord,  with  inward 
cries  that  He  would  graciously  help  me  under  these 
trials. 

In  this  case  I  believed  my  mind  was  resigned,, 
but  did  not  feel  clearness  to  proceed  ;  and  my  own 
weakness,  and  the  necessity  of  divine  instruction,, 
was  impressed  upon  me. 

1  was  for  a  time  as  one  who  knew  not  what  to  do, 
and  was  tossed  as  in  a  tempest;  under  which  afflic 
tion,  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  "  Take  no  thought  for 
the  morrow/'  arose  livingly  before  me.  I  remem^ 


200 

bered  it  was  some  days  before  they  expected  the 
vessel  to  sail,  and  was  favoured  to  get  into  a  good 
degree  of  stillness  ;  and  having  been  near  two  days 
in  town,  I  believed  my  obedience  to  my  heavenly 
Father  consisted  in  returning  homeward  ;  and  then 
I  went  over  amongst  friends  on  the  Jersey  shore,, 
and  tarried  till  the  morning  on  which  they  had 
appointed  to  sail.  And  as  I  lay  in  bed  the  latter 
part  of  that  night,  my  mind  was  comforted ;  and  I 
felt  what  I  esteemed  a  fresh  confirmation,  that  it  was 
the  Lord's  will  that  I  should  pass  through  some 
further  exercises  near  home. 

So  I  went  home,  and  still  felt  like  a  sojourner 
with  my  family  ;  and  in  the  fresh  spring  of  pure 
love,  had  some  labours  in  a  private  way  amongst 
friends,  on  a  subject  relating  to  truth's  testimony, 
under  which  I  had  frequently  been  exercised  in 
heart  for  some  years.  1  remember,  as  I  walked  on 
the  road  under  this  exercise,  that  passage  in  Ezekiel 
came  fresh  before  me  :  "  Whithersoever  their  faces 
were  turned,  thither  they  went."  And  I  was  gra 
ciously  helped  to  discharge  my  duty,  in  the  fear 
and  dread  of  the  Almighty. 

After  a  few  weeks,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  visit  rne 
with  a  pleurisy  ;  and  after  I  had  lain  a  few  days, 
and  felt  the  disorder  very  grievous,  I  was  thoughtful 
how  it  might  end. 

I  had  of  late,  through  various  exercises,  been 
much  weaned  from  the  pleasant  things  of  this  life  ; 
and  I  now  thought,  if  it  was  the  Lord's  will  to  put 
an  end  to  my  labours,  and  graciously  receive  me 
into  the  arms  of  his  mercy,  death  would  be  accept- 


201 

able  to  rne  ;  but  if  it  was  his  will  to  fin  ther  refine  me 
under  affliction,  and  make  me  in  any  degree  useful  in 
his  church,,  I  desired  not  to  die.    I  may,  with  thank 
fulness,  say,,  that  in  this  case  I  felt  resignedness 
wrought  in  me,  and  had  no  inclination  to  send  for  a 
doctor  ;  believing,  if  it  was  the  Lord's  will,  through 
outward  means,  to  raise  me  up.,  some  sympathizing 
friends    would    be  sent  to  minister  to  me  ;    who 
were  accordingly :  but  though  I  was  carefully  at 
tended,  yet  the  disorder  was  at  times  so  heavy,,  that 
I  had  no  thoughts  of  recovery.     One  night  in  par 
ticular.,  my  bodily  distress  was  great ;  iny  feet  grew 
cold,  and  cold  increased  up  my  legs  toward   my 
body ;    and   at  that  time  I  had  no   inclination  to 
ask   my  nurse   to  apply   any  thing  warm  to   my 
feet,  expecting  my  end  was  near  :  and  after  I  had 
lain  near  ten  hours  in  this  condition  I  closed  my 
eyes,  thinking  whether  I  might  now  be  delivered 
out  of  the  body  ;  but,  in  these  awful  moments,  my 
mind  was  livingly  opened  to  behold  the  church  ; 
and  strong  engagements  were  begotten  in  me,,  for 
the  everlasting  well-being  of  my  fellow-creatures. 
I   felt,  in   the  spring  of  pure  love,  that  1    might 
remain  some  time  longer  in  the  body,  in  filling  up, 
according  to  my  measure,  that  which  remains  of  the 
afflictions  of  Christ,  and  in  labouring  for  the  good 
of  the  church  ;  after  which,  I  requested  my  nurse  to 
apply  warmth  to  my  feet,  and  I  revived.    The  next 
night,   feeling   a   weighty  exercise   of  spirit,   and 
having  a  solid  friend  sitting  up  with  me,  I  requested 
him  to  write  what  I  said,  which  he  did  as  follows  : 


202 

r  "  Fourth  day  of  the  first  month,  1770,  about  five 
in  the  morning. — I  have  seen  in  the  Light  of  the 
Lord,  that  the  day  is  approaching,  when  the  man 
that  is  the  most  wise  in  human  policy  shall  be  the 
greatest  fool ;  and  the  arm  that  is  mighty  to  support 
injustice  shall  be  broken  to  pieces ;  the  enemies  of 
righteousness  shall  make  a  terrible  rattle,  and  shall 
mightily  torment  one  another ;  for  He  that  is  omni 
potent  is  rising  up  to  judgment,  and  will  plead  the 
cause  of  the  oppressed  ;  and  He  commanded  me  to 
open  the  vision/* 

Near  a  week  after  this,  feeling  my  mind  livingly 
opened,  I  sent  for  a  neighbour,  who,  at  my  request,, 
wrote  as  follows: 

<f  The  place  of  prayer  is  a  precious  habitation  ; 
for  I  now  saw  that  the  prayers  of  the  saints  were 
precious  incense  :  and  a  trumpet  was  given  me,  that 
I  might  sound  forth  this  language ;  that  the  chil 
dren  might  hear  it,  and  be  invited  together  to  this 
precious  habitation,  where  the  prayers  of  the  saints, 
as  precious  incense,  arise  before  the  throne  of  Grod 
and  the  Lamb. — I  saw  this  habitation  to  be  safe ; — 
to  be  inwardly  quiet  when  there  were  great  stirrings 
and  commotions  in  the  world. 

fc  Prayer,  at  this  day,  in  pure  resignation,  is  a 
precious  place :  the  trumpet  is  sounded ;  the  call 
goes  forth  to  the  church,  that  she  gather  to  the 
place  of  pure  inward  prayer;  and  her  habitation  is 
safe/* 


203 


CHAP.  XL 

His  preparing  to  visit  friends  in  England. — His 
embarking  at  Chester,  in  company  with  Samuel 
Emlen,  in  a  ship  bound  to  London. — His  deep 
exercise,  in  observing  the  difficulties  and  hardships 
the  common  sailors  are  exposed  to. — Considera 
tions  on  the  dangers  to  which  youth  are  exposed, 
in  being  trained  to  a  seafaring  life,  and  its  incon 
sistency  with  a  pious  education. — His  thoughts  in 
a  storm  at  sea ;  with  many  instructive  contem 
plations  on  the  voyage. — His  arrival  at  London. 

HAVING  been  some  time  under  a  religious  concern 
to  prepare  for  crossing  the  seas,  in  order  to  visit 
friends  in  the  northern  parts  of  England,  and  more 
particularly  in  Yorkshire  ;  after  weighty  considera 
tion,  I  thought  it  expedient  to  inform  friends,  at 
our  monthly  meeting  at  Burlington,  of  it;  who, 
having  unity  with  me  therein,  gave  me  a  certificate; 
and  I  afterwards  communicated  the  same  to  our 
quarterly  meeting,,  and  they  likewise  certified  their 
concurrence  therewith.  Some  time  after  which,  at 
the  general  spring  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  them  of  the  religious 
exercise  which  attended  my  mind;  with  which  they 
likewise  signified  their  unity  by  a  certificate,  dated 
the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  third  month,  1772, 
directed  to  friends  in  Great  Britain. 


204 

In  the  fourth  month  following,  I  thought  the 
time  was  come  for  me  to  make  some  inquiry  for  a 
suitable  conveyance ;  being  apprehensive  that,  as 
my  concern  was  principally  toward  the  northern 
parts  of  England,  it  would  be  most  proper  to  go  in 
a  vessel  bound  to  Liverpool  or  Whitehaven.  And 
while  I  was  at  Philadelphia,  deliberating  on  this 
occasion,  I  was  informed  that  my  beloved  friend 
Samuel  Einleri,  junior,  intended  to  go  to  London, 
and  had  taken  a  passage  for  himself  in  the  cabin  of 
the  ship  called  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  of  which  James 
Sparks  was  master,  and  John  Head,  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  one  of  the  owners  ;  and  I,  feeling  a 
draft  in  my  mind  toward  the  steerage  of  the  same 
ship,  went  first  and  opened  to  Samuel  the  feeling  I 
had  concerning  it. 

My  beloved  friend  wept  when  I  spake  to  him, 
and  appeared  glad  that  I  had  thoughts  of  going  in 
the  vessel  with  him,  though  my  prospect  was  toward 
the  steerage  ;  and  he  offering  to  go  with  me,  we 
went  on  board,  first  into  the  cabin,  a  commodious 
room,  and  then  into  the  steerage ;  where  we  sat 
down  on  a  chest,  the  sailors  being  busy  about  us  ; 
then  the  owner  of  the  ship  came  and  sat  down  with 
us. 

Here  my  mind  was  turned  toward  Christ,  the 
heavenly  counsellor  ;  and,  I  feeling  at  this  time  my 
own  will  subjected,  my  heart  was  contrite  before 
him. 

A  motion  was  made  by  the  owner  to  go  and  sit 
in  the  cabin,  as  a  place  more  retired;  but  I  felt 
easy  to  leave  the  ship,  and  made  no  agreement  as 


205 

to  a  passage  in  her ;  but  told  the  owner,  if  I  took  a 
passage  in  the  ship,  I  believed  it  would  be  in  the 
steerage  ;  but  did  not  say  much  as  to  my  exercise 
in  that  case. 

After  I  went  to  my  lodgings.,  and  the  case  was  a 
little  known  in  town,  a  friend  laid  before  me  the 
great  inconvenience  attending  a  passage  in  the 
steerage;  which,  for  a  time  appeared  very  discou 
raging  to  me. 

1  soon  after  went  to  bed,  and  my  mind  was  un 
der  a  deep  exercise  before  the  Lord,  whose  helping 
hand  was  manifested  to  me  as  I  slept  that  night* 
and  his  love  strengthened  my  heart.  And  in  the 
morning,  I  went  with  two  friends  on  board  the  ves 
sel  again  ;  and  after  a  short  time  spent  therein,  I 
went  with  Samuel  Emlen  to  the  house  of  the  owner, 
to  whom,  in  the  hearing  of  Samuel  only,  I  opened 
my  exercise,  in  substance  as  follows,  in  relation  to 
a  scruple  I  felt  with  regard  to  a  passage  in  the 
cabin. 

I  told  the  owner,  that  on  the  outside  of  that  part 
of  the  ship  where  the  cabin  was,  I  observed  sundry 
sorts  of  carved  work  and  imagery  ;  and  that  in  the 
cabin  I  observed  some  superfluity  of  workmanship 
of  several  sorts;  and  that  according  to  the  ways  of 
men's  reckoning,  the  sum  of  money  to  be  paid  for  a 
passage  in  that  apartment.,  hath  some  relation  to 
the  expense  in  furnishing  it  to  please  the  minds  of 
such  as  gave  way  to  a  conformity  to  this  world ; 
and  that  in  this  case,  as  in  other  cases,  the  monies 
received  from  the  passengers  are  calculated  to  an 
swer  every  expense  relating  to  their  passage,  and 


206 

amongst  the  rest,  of  these  superfluities  ;  and  that 
in  that  case,  I  felt  a  scruple  with  regard  to  paying 
my  money  to  defray  such  expenses. 

As  my  mind  was  now  opened,  I  told  the  owner, 
that  I  had,,  at  several  times  in  my  travels,  seen 
great  oppressions  on  this  continent  at  which  my 
heart  had  been  much  affected,  and  brought  into  a 
feeling  of  the  state  of  the  sufferers,  and  having  many 
times  been  engaged,  in  the  fear  and  love  of  God,  to 
labour  with  those  under  whom  the  oppressed  have 
been  borne  down  and  afflicted;  I  have  often  per 
ceived,  that  a  view  to  get  riches,  and  provide  es 
tates  for  children,  to  live  conformable  to  customs, 
which  stand  in  that  spirit  wherein  men  have  regard 
to  the  honours  of  this  world — that  in  the  pursuit  of 
these  things,  I  had  seen  many  entangled  in  the 
spirit  of  oppression ;  and  the  exercise  of  my  soul 
had  been  such,  that  I  could  not  find  peace,  in  join 
ing  in  any  thing  which  I  saw  was  against  that  wis 
dom  which  is  pure. 

After  this,  1  agreed  for  a  passage  in  the  steerage  ; 
and  hearing  in  town  that  Joseph  White  had  a  de 
sire  to  see  me,  I  felt  the  reviving  of  a  desire  to  see 
him,  and  went  then  to  his  house,  and  next  day 
home,  where  I  tarried  two  nights.  And  then  early 
in  the  morning,  I  parted  with  my  family,  under  a 
sense  of  the  humbling  hand  of  God  upon  me,  and 
going  to  Philadelphia,  had  opportunity  with  seve 
ral  of  my  beloved  friends,  who  appeared  to  be  con 
cerned  for  me,  on  account  of  the  unpleasant  situa 
tion  of  that  part  of  the  vessel,  where  I  was  likely 
to  lodge. 


207 

In  these  opportunities,  rny  mind  through  the 
mercies  of  the  Lord.,  was  kept  low,  in  an  inward 
waiting  for  his  help,  and  friends  having  expressed 
their  desire,  that  I  might  have  a  place  more  conve 
nient  than  the  steerage,  did  not  urge,  but  appeared 
disposed  to  leave  me  to  the  Lord. 

Having  staid  two  nights  in  Philadelphia,  I  went 
the  next  day  to  Derby  monthly  meeting,  where 
through  the  strength  of  divine  love,  my  heart  was 
enlarged  toward  the  youth  then  present,  under 
which  I  was  helped  to  labour  in  some  tenderness  of 
spirit.  Then  lodging  at  William  Horn's,  I,  with 
one  friend,  went  to  Chester,  where  meeting  with 
Samuel  Ernlen,  we  went  on  board,  the  first  day  of 
the  fifth  month,  1772 :  and  as  I  sat  down  alone,  on 
a  seat  on  the  deck,  I  felt  a  satisfactory  evidence, 
that  my  proceedings  were  not  in  my  own  will,  but 
under  the  power  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 

Seventh  day  of  the  fifth  month  : — have  had  rough 
weather,  mostly  since  I  came  on  board,  and  the 
passengers,  James  Reynolds,  John  Till  Adams, 
Sarah  Logan  and  her  hired  maid,  and  John  Bis- 
pham,  all  sea-sick,  more  or  less,  at  times  ;  from 
which  sickness,  through  the  tender  mercies  of  my 
heavenly  Father,  I  have  been  preserved,  my  afflic 
tions  now  being  of  another  kind. 

There  appeared  an  openness  in  the  minds  of  the 
ma.ster  of  the  ship  and  in  the  cabin  passengers  to 
ward  me  :  we  were  often  together  on  the  deck,  and 
sometimes  in  the  cabin. 

My  mind,  through  the  merciful  help  of  the  Lord, 
hath  been  preserved  in  a  good  degree  watchful, 


208 

and  inward ;  and  I  have,  this  day,  great  cause  to 
be  thankful,  in  that  I  remain  to  feel  quietness  of 
mind. 

As  my  lodging  in  the  steerage,  now  near  a  week, 
hath  afforded  me  sundry  opportunities  of  seeing, 
hearing,  and  feeling,  with  respect  to  the  life  and 
spirit  of  many  poor  sailors  ;  an  inward  exercise  of 
soul  hath  attended  me,  in  regard  to  placing  out 
children  and  youth  where  they  may  be  likely  to  be 
exampled  and  instructed  in  the  pure  fear  of  the 
Lord ;  and  I  being  much  amongst  the  seamen,  have 
from  a  motion  of  love,  sundry  times  taken  opportu 
nities,  with  one  of  them  at  a  time  alone,  and  in  a 
free  conversation,  laboured  to  turn  their  minds  to 
ward  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  And  this  day  we  had  a 
meeting  in  the  cabin,  where  my  heart  was  contrite 
under  a  feeling  of  divine  love. 

Now  concerning  lads  being  trained  up  as  sea 
men,  I  believe  a  communication  from  one  part  of 
the  world  to  some  other  parts  of  it,  by  sea,  is,  at 
times,  consistent  with  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Fa 
ther  ;  and  to  educate  some  youth  in  the  practice  of 
sailing,  I  believe  may  be  light;  but  how  lamenta 
ble  is  the  present  corruption  of  the  world  !  How 
impure  are  the  channels  through  which  trade  hath 
a  conveyance  !  How  great  is  that  danger,  to  which 
poor  lads  are  now  exposed,  when  placed  on  ship 
board  to  learn  the  art  of  sailing  ? 

Five  lads,  training  up  for  the  seas,  were  now  on 
board  this  ship  ;  two  of  them  brought  up  amongst 
our  society,  one  of  whom  hath  a  right  amongst 
friends,  by  name  James  Naiior,  to  whose  father 


209 

James  Nailor,  mentioned  in  Sewel's  history,  ap 
pears  to  have  been  uncle. 

I  often  feel  a  tenderness  of  heart  toward  these 
poor  lads  ;  and,  at  times,  look  at  them  as  though 
they  were  my  children  according  to  the  flesh. 

O  that  all  may  take  heed  and  beware  of  covetous- 
ness  !  O  that  all  may  learn  of  Christ,  who  was  meek 
and  low  of  heart !  Then,  in  faithfully  following 
him,  he  will  teach  us  to  be  content  with  food  and 
raiment,  without  respect  to  the  customs  or  honours 
of  this  world. 

Men  thus  redeemed,  will  feel  a  tender  concern 
for  their  fellow-creatures,  and  a  desire  that  those  in 
the  lowest  stations  may  be  assisted  and  encouraged, 
and  where  owners  of  ships  attain  to  the  perfect  law 
of  liberty,  and  are  doers  of  the  word,  these  will  be 
blessed  in  their  deeds.  ^V 

A  ship  at  sea  commonly  sails  all  night,  and  the 
seamen  take  their  watches  four  hours  at  a  time. 

Rising  to  work  in  the  night,  is  not  commonly 
pleasant  in  any  case  ;  but  in  dark  rainy  nights  it  is 
very  disagreeable,  even  though  each  man  were  fur 
nished  with  all  conveniences  ;  but  if  men  must  go 
out  at  midnight  to  help  to  manage  the  ship  in  the 
rain,  and  having  small  room  to  sleep  and  lay  their 
garments  in,  are  often  beset  to  furnish  themselves 
for  the  watch  ;  their  garments  or  some  thing  relat 
ing  to  their  business  being  wanting,  and  not  easily 
found  ;  when  from  the  urgency  occasioned  by  high 
winds,  they  are  hastened  and  called  up  suddenly  : 
here  is  a  trial  of  patience  on  the  poor  sailors,  and 
the  poor  lads  their  companions. 


210 

If  after  they  have  been  on  deck  several  hours  in 
the  night,  and  come  down  in  the  steerage  soaking 
wet,  and  are  so  close  stowed  that  proper  conveni 
ence  for  change  of  garments  is  not  easily  come  at, 
but  for  want  of  proper  room  their  wet  garments 
thrown  in  heaps,  and  sometimes,  through    much 
crowding,  are  trodden  under  foot  in  going  to  their 
lodgings  and  getting  out  of  them,  and  great  diffi 
culties,  at  times,  each  one  to  find  his  own  :  here 
are  trials  on  the  poor  sailors. 

Now  as  1  have  been  with  them  in  my  lodge,  my 
heart  hath  often  yearned  for  them,,  and  tender  desires 
been  raised  in  me,  that  all  owners  and  masters  of 
vessels  may  dwell  in  the  love  of  God,  and  therein 
act  uprightly,  and  by  seeking  less  for  gain,  and 
looking  carefully  to  their  ways,  may  earnestly  la 
bour  to  remove  all  cause  of  provocation  from  the 
poor  seamen,  either  to  fret  or  use  excess  of  strong 
drink;  for,  indeed,  the  poor  creatures,  at  times,  in 
the  wot  and  cold,  seem  to  apply  to  strong  drink  to 
supply  the  want  of  other  convenience. 

Great  reformation  in  the  world  is  wanting,  and 
the  necessity  of  it,  amongst  these  who  do  business 
on  great  waters,  hath,  at  this  time,  been  abundantly 
opened  before  me. 

The  eighth  day  of  the  fifth  month. — This  morn 
ing  the  clouds  gathered,  the  wind  blew  strong  from 
the  south-eastward,  and,  before  noon,  increased  to 
that  degree  that  sailing  appeared  dangerous.  The 
seamen  then  bound  up  some  of  their  sails,  and  took 
down  some;  and  the  storm  increasing,  they  put  the 
dead  lights,  so  called,  into  the  cabin -windows,  and 
lighted  a  lamp  as  at  night. 


The  wind  now  blew  vehemently,  and  the  sea 
wrought  to  that  degree,  that  an  awful  seriousness 
prevailed  in  the  cabin,  in  which  I  spent  I  believe, 
about  seventeen  hours,  for  I  believed  the  poor  wet 
toiling  seamen,  had  need  of  all  the  room  in  the 
crowded  steerage,  and  the  cabin  passengers  had 
given  me  frequent  invitations. 

They  ceased  now  from  sailing,  and  put  the  ves 
sel  in  the  posture  called  lying-to. 

My  mind  in  this  tempest,  through  the  gracious 
assistance  of  the  Lord,  was  preserved  in  a  good 
degree  of  resignation  ;  and  I  felt,  at  times,  a  few 
words  in  his  love  to  my  ship-mates,  in  regard  to  the 
all-sufficiency  of  Him  who  formed  the  great  deep, 
and  whose  care  is  so  extensive,  that  a  sparrow  falls 
not  without  his  notice;  and  thus,  in  a  tender  frame 
of  mind,  spoke  to  them  of  the  necessity  of  our 
yielding,  in  true  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  our 
heavenly  Father,  who  sometimes,  through  adversi 
ties,  intendeth  our  refinement. 

About  eleven  at  night,  I  went  out  on  the  deck, 
when  the  sea  wrought  exceedingly,  and  the  high 
foaming  \vaves,  all  round  about,  had,  in  some  sort, 
the  appearance  of  fire,  but  did  not  give  much,  if 
any,  light. 

The  sailor,  then  at  the  helm,  said  he  lately  saw  a 
corposant  at  the  head  of  the  mast. 

About  this  time,  I  observed  the  master  of  the  ship 
ordered  the  carpenter  to  keep  on  the  deck,  and 
though  he  said  little,  I  apprehended  his  care  was 
that  the  carpenter  with  his  axe  might  be  in  readi 
ness  in  case  of  any  extremity. 


o2 


212 

Soon  after  this  the  vehemency  of  the  wind  abated, 
and  before  morning,  they  again  put  the  ship  under 
sail. 

The  tenth  day  of  the  month,  and  first  of  the 
week,  it  being  fine  weather,  we  had  a  meeting  in 
the  cabin,  at  which  most  of  the  seamen  were  pre 
sent  ;  this  meeting  to  me  was  a  strengthening 
time. 

The  thirteenth  day  of  the  month.  — As  I  continue 
to  lodge  in  the  steerage,  I  feel  an  openness  this 
morning,  to  express  something  further  of  the  state 
of  my  mind,  in  respect  to  poor  lads  bound  appren 
tice  to  learn  the  art  of  sailing.  As  I  believe  sailing 
is  of  some  use  in  the  world,  a  labour  of  soul  attends 
me,  that  the  pure  counsel  of  truth  may  be  humbly 
waited  for  in  this  case,  by  all  concerned  in  the  busi 
ness  of  the  seas. 

A  pious  father,  whose  mind  is  exercised  for  the 
everlasting  welfare  of  his  child,  may  not,  with  a 
peaceable  mind,  place  him  out  to  an  employment 
amongst  a  people,  whose  common  course  of  life  is 
manifestly  corrupt  and  profane.  So  great  is  the  pre 
sent  defect  amongst  seafaring  men,  in  regard  to 
piety  and  virtue  ;  and  through  an  abundant  trailic, 
and  many  ships  of  war,  so  many  people  are  em 
ployed  on  the  sea,  that  this  subject  of  placing  iads 
to  the  employment  appears  very  weighty. 

Profane  examples  are  very  corrupting,  and  very 
forcible.  And  as  my  mind,  day  after  day,  and  night 
after  night,  hath  been  affected  with  a  sympathizing 
tenderness  toward  poor  children,  put  to  the  em 
ployment  of  sailors,  I  have  sometimes  had  weighty 


213 

conversation  with  the  sailors  in  the  steerage,,  who 
were  mostly  respectful  to  me,  and  more  and  more 
so  the  longer  I  was  with  them.  They  mostly  ap 
peared  to  take  kindly  what  I  said  to  them ;  but 
their  minds  have  appeared  to  be  so  deeply  impressed 
with  that  almost  universal  depravity  amongst  sail 
ors.,  that  the  poor  creatures  in  their  answers  to  me 
on  this  subject,  have  revived  in  my  remembrance, 
that  of  the  degenerate  Jews  a  little  before  the  cap 
tivity,  as  repeated  by  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  "There 
is  no  hope/' 

Now  under  this  exercise,  a  sense  of  the  desire  of 
outward  gain  prevailing  amongst  us,  hath  felt 
grievous ;  and  a  strong  call  to  the  professed  follow 
ers  of  Christ,  hath  been  raised  in  me  ;  that  all  may 
take  heed,  lest  through  loving  this  present  world, 
they  be  found  in  a  continued  neglect  of  duty,  with 
respect  to  a  faithful  labour  for  a  reformation. 

Silence,  as  to  every  motion  proceeding  from  the 
love  of  money,  and  an  humble  waiting  upon  God, 
to  know  his  will  concerning  us,  hath  now  appeared 
necessary.  He  alone  is  able  to  strengthen  us  to 
dig  deep,  to  remove  all  which  lies  between  us  and 
the  safe  foundation,  and  so  direct  us  in  our  outward 
employments,  that  pure  universal  love,  may  shine 
forth  in  our  proceedings. 

Desires  arising  from  the  spirit  of  truth,  are  pure 
desires,  and  when  a  mind  divinely  opened  toward 
a  young  generation,  is  made  sensible  of  corrupting 
examples,  powerfully  working,  and  extensively 
spreading  amongst  them,  how  moving  is  the  pros 
pect. 


A  great  trade  to  the  coast  of  Africa  for  slaves,  of 
which  I  now  heard  frequent  conversation  amongst 
the  sailors ! 

A  great  trade  in  that  which  is  raised  and  prepared 
through  grievous  oppression  ! 

A  great  trade  in  superfluity  of  workmanship, 
formed  to  please  the  pride  and  vanity  of  people's 
minds  ! 

Great  and  extensive  is  that  depravity  which  pre 
vails  amongst  the  poor  sailors  ! 

When  I  remember  that  saying  of  the  Most 
High,  through  his  prophet,  "  This  people  have  I 
formed  for  myself;  they  shall  show  forth  my 
praise  :"  and  think  of  placing  children  amongst 
them,  to  learn  the  practice  of  sailing,  the  consistency 
of  it  with  a  pious  education,  seems  to  me  like  that 
mentioned  by  the  prophet,  "  There  is  no  answer 
from  God." 

In  a  world  of  dangers  and  difficulties,  like  a  de 
solate  thorny  wilderness,  how  precious!  how  com 
fortable  !  how  safe  !  are  the  leadings  of  Christ,  the 
good  shepherd,  who  said,  "  I  know  my  sheep,  and 
am  known  of  mine." 

The  sixteenth  day  of  the  month. — Wind,  for  se 
veral  days  past,  often  high,  what  the  sailors  call 
squally,  rough  sea,  and  frequent  rains.  This  last 
night  a  very  trying  night  to  the  poor  seamen  ;  the 
water,  chief  part  of  the  night,  running  over  the 
main  deck,  and  sometimes  breaking  waves  came  on 
the  quarter  deck.  The  latter  part  of  the  night,  as 
I  lay  in  bed,  my  mind  was  humbled  under  the  power 
of  divine  love  ;  and  resignedness  to  the  great  Cre- 


215 

ator  of  the  earth  and  the  seas,  renewedly  wrought 
in  me,  whose  fatherly  care  over  his  children  felt 
precious  to  my  soul ;  and  desires  were  now  re 
newed  in  me,  to  embrace  every  opportunity  of  being 
inwardly  acquainted  with  the  hardships  and  diffi 
culties  of  my  fellow-creatures,  and  to  labour  in  his 
love  for  the  spreading  of  pure  universal  righteous 
ness  on  the  earth.  The  opportunities  being  frequent 
of  hearing  conversation  amongst  the  sailors,  in  re 
spect  to  the  voyages  to  Africa,  and  the  manner  of 
bringing  the  deeply  oppressed  slaves  into  our  islands ; 
and  thoughts  of  their  condition  frequently  in  chains 
and  fetters  on  board  the  vessels,  with  hearts  loaded 
with  grief,  under  the  apprehensions  of  miserable 
slavery ; — my  mind  was  frequently  opened  to  medi 
tate  on  these  things. 

On  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  month,  and  first 
of  the  week,  we  had  a  meeting  in  the  cabin,  to 
which  the  seamen  generally  came.  My  spirit  was 
contrite  before  the  Lord,  whose  love  at  this  time 
affected  iny  heart. 

This  afternoon  I  felt  a  tender  sympathy  of  soul, 
with  my  poor  wife  and  family  left  behind  ;  in  which 
state  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  desires,  that  they 
may  walk  in  that  humble  obedience  wherein  the 
everlasting  Father  may  be  their  guide  and  support 
through  all  the  difficulties  in  this  world  ;  and  a 
sense  of  that  gracious  assistance  through  which  rny 
mind  hath  been  strengthened  to  take  up  the  cross 
and  leave  them,  to  travel  in  the  love  of  truth,  hath 
begotten  thankfulness  in  my  heart  to  our  great 
Helper, 


216 

On  the  twenty-fourth  clay  of  the  month,,  and  first 
of  the  week,  a  clear  pleasant  morning:  and  as  I 
sat  on  deck,  I  felt  a  reviving  in  my  nature,  which, 
through  much  rainy  weather  and  high  winds,  being 
shut  up  in  a  close  unhealthy  air,  was  weakened. 

Several  nights,  of  late,  I  felt  breathing  difficult ; 
that  a  little  after  the  rising  of  the  second  watch 
(which  is  about  midnight)  I  got  up,  and  stood,  I 
believe  near  an  hour,  with  my  face  near  the  hatch 
way,  to  get  the  fresh  air  at  the  small  vacancy  under 
the  hatch-door,  which  is  commonly  shut  down, 
partly  to  keep  out  rain,  and  sometimes  to  keep  the 
breaking  waves  from  dashing  into  the  steerage. 

I  may,  with  thankfulness  to  the  Father  of  Mer  - 
cies,  acknowledge  that,  in  my  present  weak  state, 
my  mind  hath  been  supported  to  bear  the  affliction 
with  patience  ;  and  1  have  looked  at  the  present 
dispensation  as  a  kindness  from  the  great  Father  of 
mankind,  who,  in  this  my  floating  pilgrimage,  is  in 
some  degree  bringing  me  to  feel  that,  which  many 
thousands  of  my  fellow-creatures  often  suffer  in  a 
greater  degree. 

My  appetite  failing,  the  trial  hath  been  the  hea 
vier;  and  I  have  felt  tender  breathings  in  my  soul 
after  God,  the  fountain  of  comfort,  whose  inward 
help  hath  supplied,  at  times,  the  want  of  outward 
convenience  :  and  strong  desires  have  attended  me, 
that  his  family,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  mov- 
ings  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  may  be  so  redeemed  from 
the  love  of  money,  and  from  that  spirit  in  which 
men  seek  honour  one  of  another,  that  in  all  busi- 
ness3  by  sea  or  land,  we  may  constantly  keep  in 


217 

view  the  coming  of  his  kingdom  on  earth,  as  it  is 
in  heaven  ;  and,  by  faithfully  following  this  safe 
guide,  show  forth  examples  tending  to  lead  out  of 
that  under  which  the  creation  groans. 

This  day  we  had  a  meeting  in  the  cabin,  in  which 
I  was  favoured  in  some  degree  to  experience  the 
fulfilling  of  that  saying  of  the  prophet — "  The  Lord 
hath  been  a  strength  to  the  poor,  a  strength  to  the 
needy  in  their  distress;"  for  which  my  heart  is 
bowed  in  thankfulness  before  Him. 

The  twenty-eighth  day  of  the  month. — Wet  wea 
ther  of  late,  small  winds  inclining  to  calms.  Our 
seamen  have  cast  a  lead,  I  suppose  about  one  hun 
dred  fathom,  but  find  no  bottom.  Foggy  weather 
this  morning?, 

o 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  great  Preserver  of 
men,   my  mind  remains  quiet ;    and  a  degree  of 
exercise  from  day  to  day  attends  me,  that  the  pure 
peaceable  government  of  Christ  may  spread  and 
prevail  amongst  mankind. 

The  leading  on  of  a  young  generation  in  that 
pure  way,  in  which  the  wisdom  of  this  world  hath 
no  place  ;  where  parents  and  tutors,  humbly  wait 
ing  for  the  heavenly  Counsellor,  may  example  them 
in  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus ; — this,  for  several 
days,  hath  been  the  exercise  of  my  mind.  O,  how 
safe,  how  quiet  is  that  state,  where  the  soul  stands 
in  pure  obedience  to  the  voice  of  Christ,  and  a 
watchful  care  is  maintained,  not  to  follow  the  voice 
of  the  stranger ! 

Here  Christ  is  telt  to  be  our  shepherd  ;  and  under 
his  leading,  people  are  brought  to  a  stability  :  and 


218 

where  He  doth  not  lead  forward,,  we  are  bound  iu 
the  bonds  of  pure  love,,  to  stand  still  and  wait  upon 
Him.  In  the  love  of  money,  and  in  the  wisdom  of 
this  world,  business  is  proposed,  then  the  urgency 
of  affairs  push  forward  ;  nor  can  the  mind,  in  this 
state,  discern  the  good  and  perfect  will  of  God  con 


cerning  us. 


The  love  of  God  is  manifested  in  graciously 
calling  us  to  come  out  of  that  which  stands  in  con 
fusion  ;  but  if  we  bow  not  in  the  name  of  Jesus  ;  if 
we  give  not  up  those  prospects  of  gain,  which,  in 
the  wisdom  of  this  world,  are  open  before  us,  but 
say  in  our  hearts,  te  I  must  needs  go  on  ;"  and  in 
going  on,  ff  I  hope  to  keep  as  near  to  the  purity  of 
truth  as  the  business  before  me  will  admit  of ;" 
here  the  mind  remains  entangled,  and  the  shining 
of  the  light  of  life  into  the  soul  is  obstructed. 

This  query  opens  in  my  mind  in  the  love  of 
Christ :  Where  shall  a  pious  father  place  his  son 
apprentice,  to  be  instructed  in  the  practice  of  cross 
ing  the  seas  ;  and  have  faith  to  believe  that  Christ, 
our  holy  Shepherd,  leads  him  to  place  his  son  there? 

Surely  the  Lord  calls  to  mourning  and  deep  hu 
miliation,  that  in  his  fear  we  may  be  instructed, 
and  led  safely  on  through  the  great  difficulties  and 
perplexities  in  this  present  age. 

In  an  entire  subjection  of  our  wills,  the  Lord 
graciously  opens  a  way  for  his  people,  where  all 
their  wants  are  bounded  by  his  wisdom :  and  here 
we  experience  the  substance  of  what  Moses  the 
prophet  figured  out  in  the  water  of  separation,  as  a 
purification  from  sin. 


219 

Esau  is  mentioned  as  a  child  red  all  over,,  like  a 
hairy  garment :  in  Esau  is  represented  the  natural 
will  of  man.  In  preparing  the  water  of  separation, 
a  red  heifer  without  blemish,  on  which  there  had 
been  no  yoke,  was  to  be  slain,  and  her  blood  sprin 
kled  by  the  priest  seven  times  toward  the  taber 
nacle  of  the  congregation  :  then  her  skin,  her  flesh, 
and  all  pertaining  to  her,  was  to  be  burnt  without 
the  camp  ;  and  of  her  ashes  the  water  was  prepared . 
Thus  the  crucifying  the  old  man,  or  natural  will, 
as  represented  ;  and  hence  comes  a  separation  from 
that  carnal  mind,  which  is  death. 

c(  He  who  toucheth  the  dead  body  of  a  man,  and 
purifieth  not  himself  with  the  water  of  separation, 
he  defileth  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord ;  he  is  un 
clean/' — Numb.  xix.  13. 

If  any,  through  the  love  of  gain,  go  forth  into 
business,  wherein  they  dwell  as  amongst  the  tombs, 
and  touch  the  bodies  of  those  who  are  dead  ;  if 
these,  through  the  infinite  love  of  God,  feel  the 
power  of  the  cross  of  Christ  to  crucify  them  to  the 
world,  and  therein  learn  humbly  to  follow  the 
divine  leader  :  here  is  the  judgment  of  this  world — 
here  the  prince  of  this  world  is  cast  out. 

The  water  of  separation  is  felt;  and  though  we 
have  been  amongst  the  slain,  and,  through  the 
desire  of  gain,  have  touched  the  dead  body  of  a 
man;  yet,  in  the  purifying  love  of  Christ,  we  are 
washed  in  the  water  of  separation,  are  brought  off 
from  that  business,  from  that  gain,  and  from  that 
fellowship,  which  was  not  agreeable  to  his  holy 
will.  And  I  have  felt  a  renewed  confirmation  in 


220 

the  time  of  this  voyage,  that  the  Lord,  in  his  infi 
nite  love,  is  calling  to  his  visited  children,  so  to 
give  up  all  outward  possessions,,  and  means  of 
getting  treasures,  that  his  Holy  Spirit  may  have 
free  course  in  their  hearts,  and  direct  them  in  all 
their  proceedings. 

To  feel  the  substance  pointed  at  in  this  figure, 
man  must  know  death,  as  to  his  own  will. 

"  No  man  can  see  God  and  live."  This  was 
spoken  by  the  Almighty  to  Moses  the  prophet,  and 
opened  by  our  blessed  Redeemer. 

As  death  comes  on  our  own  wills,  arid  new  life  is 
formed  in  us,  the  heart  is  purified,  and  prepared  to 
understand  clearly.  "  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart, 
for  they  shall  see  God."  In  purity  of  heart,  the 
mind  is  divinely  opened  to  behold  the  nature  of 
universal  righteousness,  or  the  righteousness  of  the 
kingdom  of  God.  ff  No  man  hath, seen  the  Father 
save  he  that  is  of  God  ;  he  hath  seen  the  Father." 

The  natural  mind  is  active  about  the  things  of 
this  life  ;  and  in  this  natural  activity,  business  is 
proposed,  and  a  will  in  us  to  go  forward  in  it.  And 
as  long  as  this  natural  will  remains  unsubjected,  so 
long  there  remains  an  obstruction  against  the  clear 
ness  of  divine  light  operating  in  us;  but  when  we 
love  God  with  all  our  heart,  and  with  all  our  strength, 
then,  in  this  love,  we  love  our  neighbours  as  our 
selves  ;  and  a  tenderness  of  heart  is  felt  toward  all 
people  for  whom  Christ  died,  even  such  who  as  to 
outward  circumstances  may  be  to  us  as  the  Jews 
were  to  the  Samaritans.  Who  is  rny  neighbour?  See 
this  question  answered  by  our  Saviour,  Luke  x.  30. 


In  this  love  we  can  say,  that  Jesus  is  the  Lord  ; 
and  the  reformation  in  our  souls,  manifested  in  a 
full  reformation  of  our  lives,  wherein  all  things  are 
new,  and  all  things  are  of  God,  2  Cor.  v.  18. ;  in 
this  the  desire  of  gain  is  subjected. 

When  employment  is  honestly  followed  in  the 
light  of  truth,  and  people  become  diligent  in  busi 
ness,  "  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord." — Rom. 
xii.  II,  here  the  name  is  opened:  "  This  is  the 
name  by  which  he  shall  be  called,  THE  LORD 
OUR  RIGHTEOUSNESS/'— Jer.  xxiii.  6.  Oh, 
how  precious  is  this  name  !  It  is  like  ointment 
poured  out.  The  chaste  virgins  are  in  love  with 
the  Redeemer ;  and  for  promoting  his  peaceable 
kingdom  in  the  world,  are  content  to  endure  hard 
ness  like  good  soldiers ;  and  are  so  separated  in 
spirit,  from  the  desire  of  riches,  that  in  their  em 
ployments  they,  become  extensively  careful  to  give 
none  offence,  neither  to  Jews  nor  Heathen,  nor  to 
the  church  of  Christ. 

On  the  thirty-first  day  of  the  month,  and  first  of 
the  week,  we  had  a  meeting  in  the  cabin,  with  near 
all  the  ship's  company,  the  whole  being  near  thirty. 
In  this  meeting  the  Lord,  in  mercy,  favoured  us 
with  the  extending  of  his  love. 

The  second  day  of  the  sixth  month. — Last  even 
ing,  the  seamen  found  bottom  at  about  seventy 
fathoms. 

This  morning,  fair  wind  and  pleasant.  And  as 
I  sat  on  deck,  my  heart  was  overcome  with  the  love 
of  Christ,  and  melted  into  contrition  before  him  ; 
and,  in  this  state,  the  prospect  of  that  work,  to 


which  I  have  felt  my  mind  drawn  when  in  my 
native  land,  being  in  some  degree  opened  before 
me,  I  felt  like  a  little  child ;  and  my  cries  were  put 
up  to  my  heavenly  Father  for  preservation,  that  in 
an  humble  dependence  on  Him,  my  soul  may  be 
strengthened  in  his  love,,  and  kept  inwardly  waiting 
for  his  counsel. 

This  afternoon,  we  saw  that  part  of  England 
called  the  Lizard. 

Some  dunghill  fowls  yet  remained  of  those  the 
passengers  took  for  their  sea-store ;  I  believe  about 
fourteen  perished  in  the  storms  at  sea,,  by  the  waves 
breaking  over  the  quarter-deck ;  and  a  considerable 
number  with  sickness,  at,  different  times.  I  ob 
served  the  cocks  crew  coming  down  the  Delaware, 
and  while  we  were  near  the  land  ;  but  afterward,  I 
think,  I  did  not  hear  one  of  them  crow  till  we  came 
near  the  land  in  England,  when  they  again  crowed 
a  few  times. 

In  observing  their  dull  appearance  at  sea,  and 
the  pining  sickness  of  some  of  them,  I  often  remem 
bered  the  fountain  of  goodness,  who  gave  being  to 
ail  creatures,  and  whose  love  extends  to  that  of 
caring  for  the  sparrows ;  and  believe,  where  the 
love  of  God  is  verily  perfected,  and  the  true  spirit 
of  government  watchfully  attended  to,  a  tender 
ness  toward  all  creatures  made  subject  to  us  will 
be  experienced  ;  and  a  care  felt  in  us,  that  we  do 
not  lessen  that  sweetness  of  life,  in  the  animal  cre 
ation,,  which  the  great  Creator  intends  for  them 
under  our  government. 

The  fourth  day  of  the  month. — Wet  weather. 


high  winds,  and  so  dark  that  we  could  see  but  a  little 
way.  I  perceived  our  seamen  were  apprehensive  of 
danger  of  missing  the  channel,,  which  I  understood 
was  narrow.  In  a  while,  it  grew  lighter ;  and  they 
saw  the  land,  and  they  knew  where  we  were. 
Thus  the  Father  of  mercies  was  pleased  to  try  us 
with  the  sight  of  dangers  ;  and  then  graciously, 
from  time  to  time,,  deliver  from  them  :  thus  sparing 
our  lives,  that  in  humility  and  reverence  we  may 
walk  before  Him,  and  put  our  trust  in  Him. 

About  noon  a  pilot  came  off  from  Dover,  where 
my  beloved  friend  Samuel  Ernlen  went  on  shore, 
and  thence  to  London,  about  seventy-two  miles  by 
land  ;  but  I  felt  easy  in  staying  in  the  ship. 

The  seventh  day  of  the  month,  and  first  of  the 
week. — Clear  morning,  lay  at  anchor  for  the  tide, 
and  had  a  parting  meeting  with  the  ship's  com 
pany,  in  which  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  a  fervent 
concern  for  them,  that  they  may  come  to  experience 
salvation  through  Christ,  Had  a  head-wind  up  the 
Thames  ;  lay  sometimes  at  anchor ;  saw  many  ships 
passing,  and  some  at  anchor  near ;  and  had  large 
opportunity  of  feeling  the  spirit  in  which  the  poor 
bewildered  sailors  too  generally  live.  That  lament 
able  degeneracy,  which  so  much  prevails  on  the 
people  employed  on  the  seas,  so  affected  my  heart, 
that  I  may  not  easily  convey  the  feeling  I  have  had 
to  another. 

The  present  state  of  the  seafaring  life  in  general, 
appears  so  opposite  to  that  of  a  pious  education ; 
so  full  of  corruption,  and  extreme  alienation  from 
God ;  so  full  of  examples,  the  most  dangerous  to 


224: 

young  people,  that  in  looking  toward  a  young  ge 
neration,  I  feel  a  care  for  them,  that  they  may  have 
an  education  different  from  the  present  education  of 
lads  at  sea;  and  that  all  of  us,  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  pure  gospel  spirit,  may  lay  this  case  to 
heart,  may  remember  the  lamentable  corruptions 
which  attend  the  conveyance  of  merchandize  across 
the  seas,  and  so  abide  in  the  love  of  Christ,  that 
being  delivered  from  the  love  of  money,  from  the 
entangling  expenses  of  a  curious,  delicate,  luxurious, 
life,  we  may  learn  contentment  with  a  little ;  and 
promote  the  seafaring  life  no  further  than  that 
spirit,  which  leads  into  all  truth,  attends  us  in  our 
proceedings. 


225 


CHAP.  XII. 

His  attending  the  yearly  meeting  in  London-,  and 
after  it,  proceeding  towards  Yorkshire,  visiting 
several  quarterly  and  other  meetings  in  the  coun 
ties  of  Hertford,  Warwick,  Oxford,  Nottingham, 
York,  and  Westmoreland ;  and  thence  again  into 
Yorkshire,  and  to  the  city  of  York;  with  some 
instructive  thoughts  and  observations,  and  letters 
on  divers  subjects — His  hearing  of  the  decease  of 
William  Hunt ;  and  some  account  of  him — His 
sickness  at  York;  and  end  of  his  pilgrimage 
there. 

ON  the  eighth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  1772,  we 
landed  at  London,  and  I  went  straightway  to  the 
yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  which  had 
been  gathered  (1  suppose)  about  half  an  hour. 

In  this  meeting,  my  mind  was  humbly  contrite. 
In  the  afternoon,  the  meeting  for  business  opened, 
which  by  adjournments,  held  near  a  week.  In 
these  meetings,  I  often  felt  a  living  concern  for  the 
establishment  of  friends  in  the  pure  life  of  truth. 
And  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  the  meeting  of 
ministers,  meeting  of  business,  and  in  several  meet 
ings  for  public  worship;  and  I  felt  my  mind  united 
in  true  love,  to  the  faithful  labourers  now  gathered 
at  this  yearly  meeting. 

p 


226 

On  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  I  left  London, 
and  went  to  a  quarterly  meeting  at  Hertford. 

The  first  day  of  the  seventh  month. — I  have  been 
at  quarterly  meetings  at  Sherrington,  Northamp 
ton,  Banbury,  and  Shipston  ;  and  had  sundry  meet 
ings  between.  My  mind  hath  been  bowed  under  a 
sense  of  divine  goodness  manifested  amongst  us ; 
my  heart  hath  been  often  enlarged  in  true  love,  both 
amongst  ministers  and  elders,  and  in  public  meet 
ings  ;  that  through  the  Lord's  goodness,  I  believe 
it  hath  been  a  fresh  visitation  to  many,  in  particular 
to  the  youth. 

The  seventeenth  day  of  the  month. — Was  this 
day  at  Birmingham  :  have  been  at  meetings  at  Co 
ventry,  Warwick,  in  Oxfordshire,  and  sundry  other 
places,  have  felt  the  humbling  hand  of  the  Lord 
upon  me  ;  and  through  his  tender  mercies  find  peace 
in  the  labours  I  have  gone  through. 

The  twenty-sixth  day  of  the  month. — I  have  con 
tinued  travelling  northward,  visiting  meetings. 
Was  this  day  at  Nottingham,  which  in  the  forenoon 
especially,  was  through  divine  love,  a  heart-tender 
ing  season.  Next  day  had. a  meeting  in  a  friend's 
house  with  friends'  children  and  some  friends  ;  this, 
through  the  strengthening  arm  of  the  Lord,  was  a 
time  to  be  thankfully  remembered. 

The  second  day  of  the  eighth  month,  and  first  of 
the  week,  was  this  day  at  Sheffield,  a  large  inland 
town.  Have  been  at  sundry  meetings  last  week, 
and  feel  inward  thankfulness  for  that  divine  sup 
port,  which  hath  been  graciously  extended  to  me. 
The  ninth  day  of  the  month  and  the  first  of  the 


week,  was  at  Rush  worth.  Have  lately  passed 
through  some  painful  labour  ;  but  have  been  com 
forted  under  a  sense  of  that  divine  visitation,,  which 
I  feel  extended  toward  many  young  people. 

The  sixteenth  day  of  the  month,  and  first  of  the 
week,  was  at  Settle.  It  hath  of  late  been  a  time  of 
inward  poverty ;  under  which,  my  mind  hath  been 
preserved  in  a  watchful  tender  state,  feeling  for  the 
mind  of  the  holy  Leader,  arid  find  peace  in  the 
labours  I  have  passed  through. 

On  inquiry,  in  many  places,  I  find  the  price  of 
rye  about  five  shillings,  wheat  about  eight  shillings, 
per  bushel ;  oatmeal  twelve  shillings  for  a  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds  ;  mutton  from  threepence  to 
fivepence  per  pound  ;  bacon  from  sevenpence  to 
ninepence ;  cheese  from  fourpence  to  sixpence ;  but 
ter  from  eightpence  to  tenpence  ;  house-rent,  for  a 
poor  man,  from  twenty-five  shillings  to  forty  shil 
lings  per  year,  to  be  paid  weekly ;  wood  for  fire 
very  scarce  and  dear ;  coal  in  some  places,  two 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  hundred  weight ;  but 
near  the  pits  not  a  quarter  so  much.  O  may  the 
wealthy  consider  the  poor  ! 

The  wages  of  labouring  men,  in  several  counties 
toward  London,  is  tenpence  per  day  in  common 
business,  the  employer  finds  small  beer,  and  the  la 
bourer  finds  his  own  food  ;  but  in  harvest  and  hay 
time,  wages  are  about  one  shilling  per  day,  and  the 
labourer  hath  all  his  diet.  In  some  parts  of  the 
north  of  England,  poor  labouring  men  have  their 
food  where  they  work,  and  appear,  in  common,  to  do 
rather  better  than  nearer  London.  Industrious  wo- 


228 

men,  who  spin  in  the  factories  get  some  fourpence, 
some  fivepence,  and  so  on  to  six,  seven,  eight,  nine 
or  tenpence  per  day,  and  find  their  own  house-room 
and  diet.  Great  numbers  of  poor  people  live  chiefly 
on  bread  and  water,  in  the  southern  parts  of  Eng 
land,  and  some  in  the  northern  parts ;  and  there 
are  many  poor  children  not  taught  even  to  read. 
May  those  who  have  plenty,  lay  these  things  to 
heart ! 

Stage  coaches  frequently  go  upwards  of  an  hun 
dred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours  ;  and  I  have  heard 
friends  say,  in  several  places,  that  it  is  common  for 
horses  to  be  killed  with  hard  driving,  and  many 
others  driven  till  they  grow  blind. 

Postboys  pursue  their  business,  each  one  to  his 
stage,  all  night  through  the  winter.  Some  boys, 
who  ride  long  stages,  suffer  greatly  on  winter  nights, 
and  at  several  places,  I  have  heard  of  their  being 
frozen  to  death.  So  great  is  the  hurry  in  the  spirit 
of  this  world,  that  in  aiming  to  do  business  quickly, 
and  to  gain  wealth,  the  creation,  at  this  day,  doth 
loudly  groan ! 

As  my  journey  hath  been  without  a  horse,  I  have 
had  several  offers  of  being  assisted  on  my  way  in 
these  stage  coaches,  but  have  not  been  in  them  : 
nor  have  I  had  freedom  to  send  letters  by  these 
posts,  in  the  present  way  of  their  riding;  the  stages 
being  so  fixed,  and  one  boy  dependent  on  another, 
as  to  time,  that  they  commonly  go  upwards  of  one 
hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours  ;  and  in  cold 
long  winter  nights,  the  poor  boys  suffer  much. 
I  heard  in  America  of  the  way  of  these  posts ; 


229 

and  cautioned  friends  in  the  general  meeting  of  mi 
nisters  and  elders  at  Philadelphia,  and  in  the  yearly 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  at  London,  not  to 
send  letters  to  me  on  any  common  occasion  by 
post.  And  though,  on  this  account,  I  may  be 
likely  to  hear  seldomer  from  my  family  left  behind  ; 
yet  for  righteousness  sake,  I  arn,  through  divine 
favour  made  content. 

1  have  felt  great  distress  of  mind,  since  I  came  on 
this  island,  on  account  of  the  members  of  our  so 
ciety  being  mixed  with  the  world  in  various  sorts 
of  business  and  traffic,  carried  on  in  impure  chan 
nels.  Great  is  the  trade  to  Africa  for  slaves  !  and  in 
loading  these  ships,  abundance  of  people  are  em 
ployed  in  their  factories  ;  amongst  whom  are  many 
of  our  society.  Friends,  in  early  times,  refused  on  a 
religious  principle,  to  make  our  trade  in  superflui 
ties  ;  of  which,  we  have  many  large  testimonies  on 
record :  but  for  want  of  faithfulness,  some  gave 
way ;  even  some,  whose  examples  were  of  note  in 
our  society  ;  and  from  thence  others  took  more 
liberty.  Members  of  our  society  worked  in  super 
fluities,  and  bought  and  sold  them ;  and  thus  dim 
ness  of  sight  came  over  many :  at  length,  friends 
got  into  the  use  of  some  superfluities  in  dress,  and  in 
the  furniture  of  their  houses  ;  and  this  hath  spread 
from  less  to  more,  till  superfluity  of  some  Hinds  is 
common  amongst  us. 

In  this  declining  state,  many  look  at  the  exam 
ple  one  of  another,  and  too  much  neglect  the  pure 
feeling  of  truth.  Of  late  years,  a  deep  exercise  hath 


230 

attended  my  mind,  that  friends  may  dig  deep,  may 
carefully  cast  forth  the  loose  matter.,  and  get  down 
to  the  Rock,  the  sure  foundation,  arid  there  hearken 
to  that  divine  voice  which  gives  a  clear  and  certain 
sound ;  and  I  have  felt  in  that  which  doth  not  de 
ceive,  that  if  friends,  who  have  known  the  truth, 
keep  in  that  tenderness  of  heart,  where  all  views 
of  outward  gain  are  given  up,  and  their  trust  is  only 
on  the  Lord,  he  will  graciously  lead  some  to  be 
patterns  of  deep  self-denial  in  things  relating  to 
trade  and  handicraft  labour  :  and  that  some,  who 
have  plenty  of  the  treasures  of  this  world,  will  ex 
ample  in  a  plain  frugal  life,  and  pay  wages  to  such 
whom  they  may  hire,  more  liberally  than  is  now 
customary  in  some  places. 

The  twenty-third  day  of  the  month,  was  this  day 
at  Preston  Patrick,  and  had  a  comfortable  meeting. 
I  have  several  times  been  entertained  at  the  houses 
of  friends,  who  had  sundry  things  about  them 
which  had  the  appearance  of  outward  greatnesss  ; 
and  as  I  have  kept  inward,  way  hath  opened  for 
conversation  with  such  in  private,  in  which  divine 
goodness  hath  favoured  us  together,  with  heart- 
tendering  times. 

The  twenty-sixth  day  of  the  month. — Being  now 
at  George  Crossfield's,  in  the  county  of  Westmore 
land,  I  feel  a  concern  to  commit  to  writing,  that 
which  to  me  hath  been  a  case  uncommon. 

In  a  time  of  sickness  with  the  pleurisy,  a  little 
upward  of  two  years  and  a  half  ago,  I  was  brought 
so  near  the  gates  of  death,  that  I  forgot  my  name. 


231 

Being1  then  desirous  to  know  who  I  was,  I  saw  a 
mass  of  matter  of  a  dull  gloomy  colour,  between  the 
south  and  the  east;  and  was  informed  that  this 
mass  was  human  beings  in  as  great  misery  as  they 
could  be,  and  live,  and  that  I  was  mixed  with  them, 
and  that  henceforth  I  might  not  consider  myself  as 
a  distinct  or  separate  being.  In  this  state  I  re 
mained  several  hours.  I  then  heard  a  soft  melodi 
ous  voice,  more  pure  and  harmonious  than  any  I 
had  heard  with  my  ears  before;  I  believed  it  was 
the  voice  of  an  angel,  who  spake  to  the  other  an 
gels  :  the  words  were — "  John  Woolman  is  dead." 
I  soon  remembered  that  I  once  was  John  Woolrnan, 
and  being  assured  that  I  was  alive  in  the  body,  I 
greatly  wondered  what  that  heavenly  voice  could 
mean. 

I  believed  beyond  doubting  that  it  was  the  voice 
of  an  holy  angel,  but  as  yet  it  was  a  mystery  to  me. 

I  was  then  carried  in  spirit  to  the  mines,  where 
poor  oppressed  people  were  digging  rich  treasures 
for  those  called  Christians  ;  and  heard  them  blas 
pheme  the  name  of  Christ,  at  which  I  was  grieved; 
for  his  name  to  me  was  precious. 

Then  I  was  informed  that  these  heathens  were 
told,  that  those  who  oppressed  them  were  the  fol 
lowers  of  Christ ;  and  they  said  amongst  themselves, 
if  Christ  directed  them  to  use  us  in  this  sort,  then 
Christ  is  a  cruel  tyrant. 

All  this  time  the  song  of  the  angel  remained  a 
mystery;  and  in  the  morning,  my  dear  wife  and 
some  others  coming  to  my  bedside,  I  asked  them 


if  they  knew  who  I  was  ;  and  they  telling  me  I 
was  John  Woolman,  thought  I  was  light-headed  : 
for  I  told  them  not  what  the  angel  said,  nor  was  I 
disposed  to  talk  much  to  any  one,  but  was  very  de- 
sirious  to  get  so  deep,  that  I  might  understand  this 
mystery. 

My  tongue  was  often  so  dry,  that  I  could  not 
speak  till  I  had  moved  it  about  and  gathered  some 
moisture,  and  as  I  lay  still  for  a  time,  at  length  I 
felt  divine  power  prepare  rny  mouth  that  I  could 
speak  ;  and  then  I  said,  "  I  am  crucified  with  Christ, 
nevertheless  I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  that  liveth 
in  me.  And  the  life  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  is  by 
faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave 
himself  for  me." 

Then  the  mystery  was  opened,  and  I  perceived 
there  was  joy  in  heaven  over  a  sinner  who  had  re 
pented  ;  and  that  that  language  (John  Woolman 
is  dead)  meant  no  more  than  the  death  of  my  own 


Soon  after  this  I  coughed,  and  raised  much 
bloody  matter,  which  I  had  not  done  during  this 
vision.  And  now  my  natural  understanding  returned 
as  before.  Here  I  saw,  that  people's  getting  silver 
vessels  to  set  off  their  tables  at  entertainments,  was 
often  stained  with  worldly  glory  ;  and  that  in  the 
present  state  of  things,  I  should  take  heed  how  I  fed 
myself  from  out  of  silver  vessels. 

Soon  after  my  recovery,  I,  going  to  our  monthly 
meeting,  dined  at  a  friend's  house  where  drink  was 
brought  in  silver  vessels,  and  not  in  any  other  ; 


233 

and  I,  wanting  some  drink,  told  him  my  case  with 
weeping.  And  he  ordered  some  drink  for  me  in 
another  vessel. 

The  like  I  afterwards  went  through  in  several 
friends'  houses  in  America,  and  have  also  in  Eng 
land,  since  I  came  here ;  and  have  cause,  with  hum 
ble  reverence,  to  acknowledge  the  loving  kindness 
of  my  heavenly  Father,  who  hath  preserved  me  in 
such  a  tender  frame  of  mind,  that  none,  I  believe, 
have  ever  been  offended  at  what  I  have  said  on  that 
occasion. 

After  this  sickness,  I  spake  not  in  public  meet 
ings  for  worship  for  near  one  year ;  but  my  mind 
was  very  often  in  company  with  the  oppressed 
slaves,  as  I  sat  in  meetings  :  and  though,  under  this 
dispensation,  I  was  shut  up  from  speaking,  yet  the 
spring  of  the  gospel  ministry  was,  many  times,  liv- 
ingly  opened  in  me,  and  the  divine  gift  operated 
by  abundance  of  weeping,  in  feeling  the  oppression 
of  this  people.  It  being  so  long  since  I  passed 
through  this  dispensation,  and  the  matter  remain 
ing  fresh  and  livingly  in  my  mind,  I  believe  it  safest 
for  me  to  commit  it  to  writing. 

The  thirtieth  day  of  the  month. — This  morning 
I  wrote  a  letter,  in  substance  as  follows : 

"  Beloved  friend, 

"  MY  mind  is  often  affected  as  I  pass  along,  under 
a  sense  of  the  state  of  many  poor  people,,  who  sit 
under  that  sort  of  ministry  which  requires  much 
outward  labour  to  support  it ;  and  the  loving-kind 
ness  of  our  heavenly  Father,  in  opening  a  pure 


234 

gospel  ministry  in  this  nation,  hath  often  raised 
thankfulness  in  my  heart  to  Him.  I  often  remem 
ber  the  conflicts  of  the  faithful  under  persecution, 
and  now  look  at  the  free  exercise  of  the  pure  gift 
uninterrupted  by  outward  laws,  as  a  trust  commit 
ted  to  us  ;  which  requires  our  deepest  gratitude, 
and  most  careful  attention.  I  feel  a  tender  concern, 
that  the  work  of  reformation,  so  prosperously  car 
ried  on  in  this  land  within  a  few  ages  past,  may  go 
forward  and  spread  amongst  the  nations ;  and  may 
not  go  backward,  through  dust  gathering  on  our 
garments,  who  have  been  called  to  a  work  so  great 
and  so  precious. 

a  Last  evening  I  had  a  little  opportunity  at  thy 
house,  with  some  of  thy  family,  in  thy  absence,  in 
which  I  rejoiced;  and  feeling  a  sweetness  on  my 
mind  toward  thee,  I  now  endeavour  to  open  a  little 
of  the  feeling  I  had  there. 

"  I  have  heard  that  you  in  these  parts,  have  at 
certain  seasons,  meetings  of  conference,  in  relation 
to  friends  living  up  to  our  principles,  in  which 
several  meetings  unite  in  one,  with  which  I  feel 
unity.  I  having,  in  some  measure,  felt  truth  lead 
that  way  amongst  friends  in  America;  and  have 
found,  my  dear  friend,  that  in  these  labours  all  su 
perfluities  in  our  own  living,  are  against  us.  I  feel 
that  pure  love  toward  thee,  in  which  there  is  free 
dom. 

"  I  look  at  that  precious  gift  bestowed  on  thee, 
with  awfulness  before  Him  who  gave  it ;  and  feel  a 
care,  that  we  may  be  so  separated  to  the  gospel  of 


235 

Christ,,  that  those  things  ^hich  proceed  from  the 
spirit  of  this  world^  may  have  no  place  amongst  us; 

"  Thy  friend, 

"  JOHN  WOOLMAN." 

I  rested  a  few  days,  in  body  and  mind,,  with  our 
friend  Jane  Crossfield  ;  who  was  once  in  America. 
Was  on  the  sixth  day  of  the  week  at  Kendal  in 
Westmoreland ;  and  atGreyrig  meeting  the  thirtieth 
day  of  the  month.,  and  first  of  the  week. 

I  have  known  poverty  of  late,  and  been  graciously 
supported  to  keep  in  the  patience :  and  am  thankful,, 
under  a  sense  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  toward 
those  that  are  of  a  contrite  spirit. 

The  sixth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  and  first  of  the 
week,  was  this  day  at  Counterside  ;  a  large  meeting 
house,  and  very  full.  And  through  the  opening  of 
pure  love,  it  was  a  strengthening  time  to  me,  and  (I 
believe)  to  many  more, 

The  thirteenth  day  of  the  month. — Was  tnis  day 
at  Leyburn,  a  small  meeting ;  but  the  town's  peo 
ple  coming  in,  the  house  was  crowded.  It  was  a 
time  of  heavy  labour,  and  (I  believe)  was  a  profit 
able  meeting. 

At  this  place  I  heard  that  my  kinsman  William 
Hunt  from  North  Carolina,  who  was  on  a  religious 
visit  to  friends  in  England,  departed  this  life  on  the 
ninth  day  of  the  nine  month,  instant,  of  the  small 
pox,  at  Newcastle.  He  appeared  in  the  ministry 
when  a  youth,  and  his  labours  therein  were  of  good 
savour.  He  travelled  much  in  that  work  in  Ame 
rica.  I  once  heard  him  say  in  public  testimony, 


236 

(hat  his  concern  was  (in  that  visit)  to  be  devoted  to 
the  service  of  Christ  so  fully,,  that  he  might  not 
spend  one  minute  in  pleasing  himself;  which  words 
joined  with  his  example,  was  a  means  of  stirring  up 
the  pure  mind  in  me. 

Having  of  late  travelled  often  in  wet  weather, 
through  narrow  streets  in  towns  and  villages,  where 
dirtiness  under  foot,  and  the  scent  arising  from  that 
filth,  which  more  or  less  infects  the  air  of  all  thick 
settled  towns,  were  disagreeable  ;  and  I  being  but 
weakly,  have  felt  distress  both  in  body  and  mind 
with  that  which  is  impure. 

In  these  journies  I  have  been  where  much  cloth 
hath  been  dyed  ;  and  sundry  times  walked  over 
ground  where  much  of  their  dye-stuffs  have  drained 
away. 

Here  I  have  felt  a  longing  in  my  mind,  that 
people  might  come  into  cleanness  of  spirit,  clean 
ness  of  person,  cleanness  about  their  houses  and 
garments. 

Some  who  are  great  carry  delicacy  to  a  great 
height  themselves,  and  yet  the  real  cleanliness  is 
not  generally  promoted.  Dyes  being  invented 
partly  to  please  the  eye,  and  partly  to  hide  dirt,  I 
have  felt  in  this  weak  state,  travelling  in  dirtiness 
and  affected  with  unwholesome  scents,  a  strong  de 
sire  that  the  nature  of  dyeing  cloth  to  hide  dirt  may 
be  more  fully  considered. 

To  hide  dirt  in  our  garments,  appears  opposite 
to  real  cleanliness. 

To  wash  garments  and  keep  them  sweet,  this  ap 
pears  cleanly. 


237 

Through  giving  way  to  hiding  dirt  in  our  gar 
ments,  a  spirit  which  would  cover  that  which  is  dis 
agreeable  is  strengthened. 

Real  cleanness  becometh  a  holy  people ;  but 
hiding  that  which  is  not  clean  by  colouring  our 
garments,  appears  contrary  to  the  sweetness  of  sin 
cerity. 

Through  some  sorts  of  dyes,  cloth  is  less  useful. 
And  if  the  value  of  dye  stuffs,  the  expense  of  dyeing, 
and  the  damage  done  to  cloth,  were  all  added  to 
gether,  and  that  expense  applied  to  keep  all  sweet 
and  clean,  how  much  more  cleanly  would  people  be. 
On  this  visit  to  England,  I  have  felt  some  instruc 
tions  sealed  on  my  mind,  which  I  am  concerned 
to  leave  in  writing,  for  the  use  of  such  as  are 
called  to  the  station  of  a  minister  of  Christ. 

Christ  being  the  Prince  of  peace,  and  we  being 
no  more  than  ministers,  I  (hid  it  necessary  for  us, 
not  only  to  feel  a  concern  in  our  first  going  forth, 
but  to  experience  the  renewing  thereof,  in  the  ap 
pointment  of  meetings. 

1  felt  a  concern  in  America,  to  prepare  for  this 
voyage;  and  being  through  the  mercy  of  God, 
brought  safe  here,  rny  heart  was  like  a  vessel  that 
wanted  vent ;  and  for  several  weeks  at  first,  when 
my  mouth  was  opened  in  meetings,  it  often  felt 
like  the  raising  of  a  gate  in  a  water-course,  where  a 
weight  of  water  lay  upon  it,  and  in  these  labours 
there  appeared  a  fresh  visitation  to  many,  espe 
cially  the  youth:  but  sometimes  after  this,  I  felt 
empty  and  poor,  and  yet  felt  a  necessity  to  appoint 
meetings 


238 

In  this  state  I  was  exercised  to  abide  in  the  pure 
life  of  truth,  and  in  all  rny  labours  to  watch  dili 
gently  against  the  motions  of  self  in  my  own 
mind. 

I  have  frequently  felt  a  necessity  to  stand  up, 
when  the  spring  of  the  ministry  was  low,  and  to 
speak  from  the  necessity,  in  that  which  subjecteth 
the  will  of  the  creature ;  and  herein  I  was  united 
with  the  suffering  seed,  and  found  inward  sweetness 
in  these  mortifying  labours. 

As  I  have  been  preserved  in  a  watchful  attention 
to  the  divine  leader,  under  these  dispensations,  en 
largement  at  times  hath  followed,  and  the  power  of 
truth  hath  risen  higher  in  some  meetings,  than  1  ever 
knew  it  before  through  me. 

Thus  I  have  been  more  and  more  instructed,  as 
to  the  necessity  of  depending,  not  upon  a  concern 
which  I  felt  in  America,  to  come  on  a  visit  to  Eng 
land  ;  but  upon  the  fresh  instructions  of  Christ,  the 
Prince  of  peace,  from  day  to  day. 

Now  of  late,  1  felt  a  stop  in  the  appointment  of 
meetings,  not  wholly,  but  in  part ;  and  I  do  not  feel 
liberty  to  appoint  them  so  quick  one  after  another 
as  I  have  heretofore. 

The  work  of  the  ministry,  being  a  work  of  divine 
love,  1  feel  that  the  openings  thereof  are  to  be  waited 
for  in  all  our  appointments. 

Oh  how  deep  is  divine  wisdom  !  Christ  puts  forth 
his  ministers,  and  goeth  before  them;  and  oh  how 
great  is  the  danger  of  departing  from  the  pure  feel 
ing  of  that  which  leadeth  safely  ! 

Christ  knoweth  the  state  of  the  people,  and  in  the 


239 

pure  feeling  of  the  gospel  ministry,  their  states  are 
opened  to  his  servants. 

Christ  knoweth  when  the  fruit-bearing  branches 
themselves  have  need  of  purging. 

Oh;  that  these  lessons  may  be  remembered  by 
me !  and  that  all  who  appoint  meetings  may  pro 
ceed  in  the  pure  feeling  of  duty  ! 

I  have  sometimes  felt  a  necessity  to  stand  up, 
but  that  spirit  which  is  of  the  world  hath  so  much 
prevailed  in  many,,  and  the  pure  life  of  truth  been 
so  pressed  down,,  that  I  have  gone  forward,  not  as 
one  travelling  in  a  road  cast  up  arid  well  prepared, 
but  as  a  man  walking  through  a  miry  place,,  in 
which  are  stones  here  and  there,,  safe  to  step  on,  but 
so  situated  that  one  step  being  taken,  time  is  ne 
cessary  to  see  where  to  step  next. 

Now  I  find  that,  in  the  pure  obedience,  the  mind 
learns  contentment,  in  appearing  weak  and  foolish 
to  that  wisdom  which  is  of  the  world  ;  and  in  these 
lowly  labours,  they  who  stand  in  a  low  place, 
rightly  exercised  under  the  cross,  will  find  nourish 
ment. 

The  gift  is  pure ;  and  while  the  eye  is  single  in 
attending  thereto,  the  understanding  is  preserved 
clear ;  self  is  kept  out.  We  rejoice  in  filling  up  that 
which  remains  of  the  afflictions  of  Christ,  for  his 
body's  sake,  which  is  the  church. 

The  natural  man  loveth  eloquence,  and  many 
love  to  hear  eloquent  orations;  and,  if  there  is  not 
a  careful  attention  to  the  gift,  men  who  have  once 
laboured  in  the  pure  gospel  ministry,  growing  weary 
of  suffering,  and  ashamed  of  appearing  weak,  may 


240 

kindle  a  fire.,  compass  themselves  about  with  sparks, 
and  walk  in  the  light ;  not  of  Christ  who  is  under 
suffering,,  but  of  that  fire  which  they,  going  from  the 
gift,,  have  kindled :  and  that  in  hearers,  which  is 
gone  from  the  meek,,  suffering,  state  into  the  worldly 
wisdom,  may  be  warmed  with  this  fire,  and  speak 
highly  of  these  labours.  That  which  is  of  God 
gathers  to  God ;  and  that  which  is  of  the  world  is 
owned  by  the  world. 

In  this  journey  a  labour  hath  attended  my  mind, 
that  the  ministers  amongst  us  may  be  preserved,,  in 
the  meek,  feeling,  life  of  truth,  where  we  may  have 
no  desire  but  to  follow  Christ  and  be  with  him  ;  that 
when  he  is  under  suffering  we  may  suffer  with  him ; 
and  never  desire  to  rise  up  in  dominion,  but  as  he, 
by  the  virtue  of  his  own  spirit,  may  raise  us. 


A  FEW  days  after  writing  these  considerations, 
our  dear  friend,  in  the  course  of  his  religious  visits, 
came  to  the  city  of  York,  and  attended  most  of  the 
sittings  of  the  quarterly  meeting  there ;  but  before 
it  was  over,  was  taken  ill  of  the  small-pox.  Our 
friend  Thomas  Priestman,  and  others  who  attended 
him,  preserved  the  following  minutes  of  his  ex 
pressions  in  the  time  of  his  sickness,  and  of  his 
decease. 

First  day,  the  27th  of  the  ninth  month,  1772.— 
His  disorder  appeared  to  be  the  small-pox*  Being 
asked  to  have  a  doctor's  advice,  he  signified  he  had 
not  freedom  or  liberty  in  his  mind  so  to  do,  stand 
ing  wholly  resigned  to  his  will,  who  gave  him  life, 


9A\ 

-    -,-r       f  >  fl-f  i  ^       '?'"' 

and  whose  power  he  had  witnessed  to  raise  and  heal 
him  in  sickness  before,  when  he  seemed  nigh  unto 
death  ;  and  if  he  was  to  wind  up  now,  he  was  per 
fectly  resigned,  having  no  will  either  to  live  or  die, 
and  did  not  choose  any  should  be  sent  for  to  him : 
but  a  young  man,  an  apothecary,,  coming  of  his  own 
accord  the  next  day,  and  desiring  to  do  something 
for  him,  he  said  he  found  a  freedom  to  confer  with 
him  and  the  other  friends  about  him,  and  if  any 
thing  should  be  proposed  as  to  medicine,  that  did 
not  come  through  defiled  channels  or  oppressive 
hands,  he  should  be  willing  to  consider  and  take  it, 
so  far  as  he  found  freedom. 

Second  day. — He  said  he  felt  the  disorder  to  af 
fect  his  head,  so  that  he  could  think  little,  and 
but  as  a  child;  and  desired,  if  his  understanding 
should  be  more  affected,  to  have  nothing  given  him 
that  those  about  him  knew  he  had  a  testimony 
against. 

Third  day. — He  uttered  the  following  prayer: 
ec  O  Lord,  my  God,  the  amazing  horrors  of  darkness 
were  gathered  around  me  and  covered  me  all  over, 
and  I  saw  no  way  to  go  forth  ;  I  felt  the  depth  and 
extent  of  the  misery  of  my  fellow-creatures  sepa 
rated  from  the  divine  harmony,  and  it  was  heavier 
than  I  could  bear,  and  I  was  crushed  down  under 
it ;  I  lifted  up  my  hand,  I  stretched  out  my  arm,  but 
there  was  none  to  help  me;  I  looked  roundabout, 
and  was  amazed.  In  the  depths  of  misery,  O  Lord  ! 
I  remembered  that  thou  art  omnipotent ;  that  I  had 
called  thee  Father;  and  I  felt  that  I  loved  thee,  and 
I  was  made  quiet  in  thy  will,  and  I  waited  fordeli- 

Q 


242 

verance  from  thee.  Thou  hadst  pity  upon  me  when 
no  man  could  help  me  ;  I  saw  that  meekness  under 
suffering*  was  showed  to  us  in  the  most  affecting 
example  of  thy  Son,  and  thou  taught  me  to  follow 
him,  and  I  said,  "  Thy  will,  O  Father,  be  done  !" 

Fourth-day  morning,  being  asked  how  he  felt 
himself,  he  meekly  answered,  I  don't  know  that  I 
have  slept  this  night ;  I  feel  the  disorder  making  its 
progress,  but  my  mind  is  mercifully  preserved  in 
stillness  and  peace.  Some  time  after,  he  said  he 
was  sensible  the  pains  of  death  must  be  hard  to 
bear,  but  if  he  escaped  them  now,  he  must  sometime 
pass  through  them,  and  he  did  not  know  that  he 
could  be  better  prepared,  but  had  no  will  in  it.  He 
said  he  had  settled  his  outward  affairs  to  his  mind, 
had  taken  leave  of  his  wife  and  family  as  never  to 
return,  leaving  them  to  the  divine  protection ; 
adding,  Cf  though  I  feel  them  near  to  me  at  this 
time,  yet  I  freely  give  them  up,  having  a  hope  that 
they  will  be  provided  for."  And  a  little  after  said, 
' e  This  trial  is  made  easier  than  I  could  have  thought, 
my  will  being  wholly  taken  away;  for  if  I  was 
anxious  for  the  event  it  would  have  been  harder, 
but  I  am  not,  and  my  mind  enjoys  a  perfect  calm/' 

In  the  night,  a  young  woman  having  given  him 
something  to  drink,  he  said,  {C  My  child,  thou  seem- 
est  very  kind  to  me  a  poor  creature,  the  Lord  will 
reward  thee  for  it."  A  while  after  he  cried  out, 
with  great  earnestness  of  spirit,  "  Oh,  my  Father! 
my  Father!"  and  soon  after  he  said,  (f  Oh,  my 
Father!  my  Father!  how  comfortable  art  thou  to 
my  soul  in  this  trying  season!"  Being  asked  if  he 


243 

could  take  a  little  nourishment,,  after  some  pause, 
he  replied,  <{  My  child,  I  cannot  tell  what  to  say  to 
it;  I  seem  nearly  arrived  where  my  soul  shall  have 
rest  from  all  its  troubles/'  After  giving  in  some 
thing  to  be  inserted  in  his  journal,  he  said,  "I  believe 
the  Lord  will  now  excuse  me  from  exercises  of  this 
kind ;  and  I  see  no  work  but  one,  which  is  to  be 
the  last  wrought  by  rne  in  this  world  ;  the  messen 
ger  will  come  that  will  release  me  from  all  these 
troubles,  but  it  must  be  in  the  Lord's  time,  which 
I  am  waiting  for."  He  said  he  had  laboured  to  do 
whatever  was  required,  according  to  the  ability 
received,  in  the  remembrance  of  which  he  had 
peace ;  and  though  the  disorder  was  strong  at  times, 
and  would  like  a  whirlwind  come  over  his  mind, 
yet  it  had  hitherto  been  kept  steady,  and  centered 
in  everlasting  love;  adding,  and  if  that  be  merci 
fully  continued,  I  ask  nor  desire  no  more.  Another 
time  he  said,  he  had  long  had  a  view  of  visiting 
this  nation,  arid  sometime  before  he  came  had  a 
dream,  in  which  he  saw  himself  in  the  northern 
parts  of  it,  and  that  the  spring  of  the  gospel  was 
opened  in  him  much  as  in  the  beginning  of  friends, 
such  as  George  Fox  and  William  Dewsbury,  and 
he  saw  the  different  states  of  the  people,  as  clear  as 
he  had  ever  seen  flowers  in  a  garden ;  but  in  his 
going  along  he  was  suddenly  stopped,  though  he 
could  not  see  for  what  end ;  but  looking  towards 
home,  fell  into  a  flood  of  tears,  which  waked  him. 

At  another  time  he  said,  ef  My  draught  seemed 
strongest  towards  the  North,  and  I  mentioned  in 
my  own  monthly  meeting,  that  attending  the  quar- 


£44 

terly  meeting  at  York,  and  being  there  looked  like 
home  to  me." 

Fifth-day  night,  having  repeatedly  consented  to 
take  medicine  with  a  view  to  settle  his  stomach,  but 
without  effect  ;  the  friend  then  waiting  on  him  said, 
through  distress,  What  shall  I  do  now  ?  He  an 
swered,  with  great  composure,  "  Rejoice  evermore, 
and  in  every  thing  give  thanks;"  but  added  a  little 
after,  fC  This  is  sometimes  hard  to  come  at." 

Sixth-day  morning  he  broke  forth  early  in  sup 
plication  on  this  wise  :  "  O  Lord,  it  was  thy  power 
that  enabled  me  to  forsake  sin  in  my  youth,  and  I 
have  felt  thy  bruises  for  disobedience ;  but  as  I 
bowed  under  them  thou  healedst  me,  continuing  a 
father  and  a  friend ;  I  feel  thy  power  now,  and  I 
beg  that  in  the  approaching  trying  moment  Thou 
wilt  keep  my  heart  steadfast  unto  thee."  Upon  his 
giving  directions  to  a  friend  concerning  some  little 
things,  she  said,  "  I  will  take  care,  but  hope  thou  wilt 
live  to  order  them  thyself?'  He  replied,  fc  My  hope 
is  in  Christ,  and  though  I  may  seern  a  little  better, 
a  change  in  the  disorder  may  soon  happen,  and  my 
little  strength  be  dissolved,  and  if  it  so  happens,  I 
shall  be  gathered  to  my  everlasting  rest."  On  her 
saying  she  did  not  doubt  that,  but  could  not  help 
mourning  to  see  so  many  faithful  servants  removed 
at  so  low  a  time,  he  said, cc  All  good  cometh  from  the 
Lord,  whose  power  is  the  same,  and  can  work  as  He 
sees  best."  The  same  day  he  had  given  directions 
about  wrapping  his  corpse;  perceiving  a  friend  to 
weep,  he  said, <f  I  would  rather  thou  wouldst  guard 
against  weeping  for  me,  my  sister ;  I  sorrow  not, 


245 

though  I  have  had  some  painful  conflicts,  but  now 
they  seem  over  and  matters  well  settled,  and  I  look 
at  the  face  of  my  dear  Redeemer,  for  sweet  is  his 
voice,  and  his  countenance  is  comely/' 

First-day,  fourth  of  the  tenth  month,  being  very 
weak,  and  in  general  difficult  to  be  understood,  he 
uttered  a  few  words  in  commemoration  of  the  Lord's 
goodness  ;  and  added,  "  How  tenderly  have  I  been 
waited  on  in  this  time  of  affliction,  in  which  I  may 
say,  in  Job's  words,  '  Tedious  days  and  wearisome 
nights  are  appointed  unto  me ;'  and  how  many  are 
spending  their  time  and  money  in  vanity  and  super- 
iluities,  while  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  want 
the  necessaries  of  life,  who  might  be  relieved  by 
them;  and  their  distresses,  at  such  a  time  as  this, 
in  some  degree  softened  by  the  administering  suit 
able  things." 

Second-day  morning,  the  apothecary,  who  ap 
peared  very  anxious  to  assist  him,  being  present, 
he  queried  about  the  probability  of  such  a  load  of 
matter  being  thrown  off  his  weak  body,  and  the 
apothecary  making  some  remarks,  implying  he 
thought  it  might;  he  spoke  with  an  audible  voice 
on  this  wise :  "  My  dependence  is  on  the  Lord  Jesus, 
who  I  trust  will  forgive  my  sins,  which  is  all  I  hope 
for;  and,  if  it  be  his  will  to  raise  up  this  body 
again,  I  am  content ;  and  if  to  die,  I  am  resigned  ; 
and  if  thou  canst  not  be  easy  without  trying  to 
assist  nature,  I  submit."  After  which,  his  throat  was 
so  much  affected,  that  it  was  very  difficult  for  him 
to  speak  so  as  to  be  understood,  and  he  frequently 
wrote  when  he  wanted  any  thing.  About  the  se- 


246 

cond  hour  on  the  fourth-day  morning,  he  asked  for 
pen  and  ink,  and  at  several  times,,  with  much  diffi 
culty,  wrote  thus:  (f  I  believe  my  being'  here  is  in 
the  wisdom  of  Christ ;  I  know  not  as  to  life  or 
death/' 

About  a  quarter  before  six,  the  same  morning,  he 
seemed  to  fall  into  an  easy  sleep,  which  continued 
about  half  an  hour,  when,  seeming  to  awake,  he 
breathed  a  few  times  with  more  difficulty,  and  ex 
pired  without  sigh,  groan,  or  struggle. 


END    OF    THE    JOURNAL. 


THE 


WORKS 


OF 


JOHN  WOOLMAN, 


CONSISTING    OF 


CONSIDERATIONS  ON  THE  KEEPING  OF  NEGROES, 
REFLECTIONS  ON  VARIOUS  SUBJECTS, 


AND 


AN  EPISTLE  TO  THE  QUARTERLY  AND  MONTHLY 
MEETINGS  OF  FRIENDS. 


SOME  CONSIDERATIONS 


ON  THE 


KEEPING    OF    NEGROES. 

Recommended  to  the  Professors  of  Christianity  of 
every  Denomination. 

[First  Printed  in  the  Year  1754.] 


PART    THE    FIRST. 


INTRODUCTION. 

CUSTOMS  generally  approved,  and  opinions  re 
ceived  by  youth  from  their  superiors,  become,  like 
the  natural  produce  of  a  soil,  especially  when 
they  are  suited  to  favourite  inclinations ;  but,  as 
the  judgments  of  God  are  without  partiality,  by 
which  the  state  of  the  soul  must  be  tried,  it  would 
be  the  highest  wisdom  to  forego  customs  and  popu 
lar  opinions,  and  try  the  treasures  of  the  soul  by 
the  infallible  standard,  truth. 

Natural  affection  needs  a  careful  examination. 
Operating  upon  us  in  a  soft  manner,  it  kindles  de 
sires  of  love  and  tenderness,,  and  there  is  danger  of 
taking  it  for  something  higher.  To  me  it  appears 
an  instinct  like  that  which  inferior  creatures  have ; 
each  of  them,  we  see,  by  the  ties  of  nature,  love 
self  best ;  that  which  is  a  part  of  self,  they  love  by 
the  same  tie  or  instinct.  In  them,  it,  in  some  mea- 


250 

sure,  does  the  offices  of  reason  by  which,  among 
other  things,  they  watchfully  keep  and  orderly  feed 
their  helpless  offspring.  Thus  natural  affection 
appears  to  be  a  branch  of  self-love,  good  in  the  ani 
mal  race,  in  us  likewise  with  proper  limitations ; 
but  otherwise  is  productive  of  evil,  by  exciting 
desires  to  promote  some  by  means  prejudicial  to 
others. 

Our  blessed  Saviour  seems  to  give  a  check  to  this 
irregular  fondness  in  nature,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
a  precedent  for  us  :  "  Who  is  my  mother,  and  who 
are  my  brethren?"  thereby  intimating,  that  the 
earthly  ties  of  relationship  are,  comparatively  in 
considerable  to  such,  who,  through  a  steady  course 
of  obedience,  have  come  to  the  happy  experience  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  bearing  witness  with  their  spirits 
that  they  are  his  children :  C(  And  he  stretched  forth 
his  hand  towards  his  disciples,  and  said,  Behold  my 
mother,  and  my  brethren  :  for  whosoever  shall  do 
the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven/'  (arrives 
at  the  more  noble  part  of  true  relationship,)  cc  the 
same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother," — 
Matt.  xii.  49. 

This  doctrine  agrees  well  with  a  state  truly  com 
plete,  where  love  necessarily  operates  according  to 
the  agreeableness  of  things  on  principles  unalterable 
and  in  themselves  perfect. 

If  endeavouring  to  have  my  children  eminent 
amongst  men  after  my  death,  be  that  which  no  rea 
sons  grounded  on  these  principles  can  be  brought 
to  support ;  then  to  be  temperate  in  rny  pursuit 
after  gain,  and  to  keep  always  within  the  bounds  of 


251 

these  principles,  is  an  indispensable  duty,  and  to 
depart  from  it,  a  dark,  unfruitful  toil. 

In  our  present  condition,  to  love  our  children  is 
needful ;  but  except  this  love  proceeds  from  the 
true  heavenly  principle  which  sees  beyond  earthly 
treasures,  it  will  rather  be  injurious  than  of  any  real 
advantage  to  them.  Where  the  fountain  is  corrupt, 
the  streams  must  necessarily  be  impure. 

That  important  injunction  of  our  Saviour,  (Matt, 
vi.  33.)  with  the  promise  annexed,  contains  a  short 
but  comprehensive  view  of  our  duty  and  happiness. 
If  then  the  business  of  mankind  in  this  life  is,  to  first 
seek  another  ;  if  this  cannot  be  done,  but  by  attend 
ing  to  the  means  ;  if  a  summary  of  the  means  is,  not 
to  do  that  to  another  which,  in  like  circumstances, 
we  would  riot  have  done  unto  us,  then  these  are 
points  of  moment,  and  worthy  of  our  most  serious 
consideration. 

What  I  write  on  this  subject  is  with  reluctance, 
and  the  hints  given  are  in  as  general  terms  as  my 
concern  would  allow.  I  know  it  is  a  point  about 
which,  in  all  its  branches,  men  that  appear  to  aim 
well  are  not  generally  agreed ;  and,  for  that  reason, 
I  chose  to  avoid  being  very  particular.  If  I  may 
happily  have  let  drop  any  thing  that  may  excite  such 
as  are  concerned  in  the  practice  to  a  close  thinking 
on  the  subject  treated  of,  the  candid  amongst  them 
may  easily  do  the  subject  such  further  justice,  as,  on 
an  impartial  inquiry,  it  may  appear  to  deserve;  and 
such  an  inquiry  I  would  earnestly  recommend. 


SOME 

CONSIDERATIONS,  &c. 


"  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my 
brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me ." — MATT.  xxv.  40. 

As  many  times  there  are  different  motives  to  the 
same  actions  ;  and  one  does  that  from  a  generous 
heart,  which  another  does  for  selfish  ends  ;  the  like 
may  be  said  in  this  case. 

There  are  various  circumstances  among  them 
that  keep  negroes,  and  different  ways  by  which  they 
fall  under  their  care ;  and  I  doubt  not,  there  are 
many  well-disposed  persons  amongst  them  who  de 
sire  rather  to  manage  wisely  and  justly  in  this  diffi 
cult  matter,  than  to  make  gain  of  it. 

13 ut  the  general  disadvantage  which  these  poor 
Africans  lie  under  in  an  enlightened  Christian  coun 
try,  having  often  filled  me  with  real  sadness,  and 
been  like  undigested  matter  on  my  mind,  I  now 
think  it  my  duty,  through  divine  aid,  to  offer  some 
thoughts  thereon  to  the  consideration  of  others. 

When  we  remember  that  all  nations  are  of  one 
blood,  Gen.  iii.  20.  that  in  this  world  we  are  but 
sojourners,  that  we  are  subject  to  the  like  afflictions 
and  infirmities  of  body,  the  like  disorders  and  frail 
ties  of  mind,  the  like  temptations,  the  same  death, 
and  the  same  judgment,,  and,  that  the  allwise  Being 


253 

is  Judge  and  Lord  over  us  all,  it  seems  to  raise  an 
idea  of  a  general  brotherhood,  and  a  disposition 
easy  to  be  touched  with  a  feeling  of  each  other's 
afflictions ;  but  when  we  forget  these  things,  and 
look  chiefly  at  our  outward  circumstances,  in  this 
and  some  ages  past,  constantly  retaining  in  our 
minds  the  distinction  betwixt  us  and  them,  with 
respect  to  our  knowledge  and  improvement  in 
things  divine,  natural  and  artificial,  our  breasts 
being  apt  to  be  filled  with  fond  notions  of  superi 
ority,  there  is  danger  of  erring  in  our  conduct  to 
ward  them. 

We  allow  them  to  be  of  the  same  species  with 
ourselves,  the  odds  is,  we  are  in  a  higher  station,, 
and  enjoy  greater  favours  than  they.  And  when  it 
is  thus,  that  our  heavenly  Father  endoweth  some 
of  his  children  with  distinguished  gifts,  they  are  in 
tended  for  good  ends ;  but  if  those  thus  gifted  are 
thereby  lifted  up  above  their  brethren,  not  consider 
ing  themselves  as  debtors  to  the  weak,  nor  behav 
ing  themselves  as  faithful  stewards,  none  who 
judge  impartially  can  suppose  them  free  from  in 
gratitude. 

When  a  people  dwell  under  the  liberal  distribu- 
tion  of  favours  from  heaven,  it  behoves  them  care 
fully  to  inspect  their  ways,  and  consider  the  pur 
poses  for  which  those  favours  were  bestowed,  lest 
through  forgetfulness  of  God,  and  misusing  his  gifts, 
they  incur  his  heavy  displeasure,  whose  judgments 
are  just  and  equal,  who  exalteth  and  humbleth  to 
the  dust  as  He  seeth  meet. 

It  appears  by  holy  record,  that  men  under  high 


254 

favours  have  been  apt  to  err  in  their  opinions  con 
cerning  others.  Thus  Israel,  according  to  the  de 
scription  of  the  prophet,  Isa.  Ixv.  5.  when  exceed 
ingly  corrupted  and  degenerated,,  yet  remembered 
they  were  the  chosen  people  of  God  ;  and  could 
say,  ce  Stand  by  thyself,  come  not  near  to  me,  for  I 
am  holier  than  .thou."  That  this  was  no  chance 
language,  but  their  common  opinion  of  other  peo 
ple,  more  fully  appears,  by  considering  the  circum 
stances  which  attended,  when  God  was  beginning  to 
fulfil  his  precious  promises  concerning  the  gathering 
of  the  Gentiles. 

The  Most  High,  in  a  vision,  undeceived  Peter  ; 
first,  prepared  his  heart  to  believe ;  and,  at  the 
house  of  Cornelius,  showed  him  of  a  certainty  that 
God  was  no  respecter  of  persons. 

The  effusion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  a  people, 
with  whom  they,  the  Jewish  Christians,  would  not 
so  much  as  eat,  was  strange  to  them.  All  they  of 
the  circumcision  were  astonished  to  see  it ;  and  the 
apostles  and  brethren  of  Judea  contended  with 
Peter  about  it,  till  he,  having  rehearsed  the  whole 
matter,  and  fully  shown  that  the  Father's  love  was 
unlimited,  they  were  thereat  struck  with  admiration, 
and  cried  out,  "  Then  hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles 
granted  repentance  unto  life!" 

The  opinion  of  peculiar  favours  being  confined  to 
them,  was  deeply  rooted,  or  else  the  above  instance 
had  been  less  strange  to  them,  for  these  reasons  : 
First,  They  were  generally  acquainted  with  the 
writings  of  the  prophets,  by  whom  this  time  was 
repeatedly  spoken  of,  and  pointed  at.  Secondly, 


255 

Our  blessed  Lord  shortly  before,  expressly  said,, 
"Other  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this  fold, 
them  also  I  must  bring/'  &c.  Lastly,  His  words 
to  them  after  his  resurrection,  at  the  very  time  of 
his  ascension,  cc  Ye  shall  be  witnessess  unto  me, 
both  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Sa 
maria,  and  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth." 
Acts  i.  8. 

These  concurring  circumstances,  one  would 
think,  might  have  raised  a  strong  expectation  of 
seeing  such  a  time  ;  yet  when  it  came,  it  proved 
matter  of  offence  and  astonishment. 

To  consider  mankind  otherwise  than  brethren,  to 
think  favours  are  peculiar  to  one  nation,  and  ex 
clude  others,  plainly  supposes  a  darkness  in  the 
understanding  ;  for  as  God's  love  is  universal,  so 
where  the  mind  is  sufficiently  influenced  by  it,  it 
begets  a  likeness  of  itself,  and  the  heart  is  enlarged 
towards  all  men.  Again,  to  conclude  a  people  frow- 
ard,  perverse,  and  worse  by  nature  than  others 
(who  ungratefully  receive  favours,  and  apply  them  to 
bad  ends)  this  will  excite  a  behaviour  toward  them 
unbecoming  the  excellence  of  true  religion. 

To  prevent  such  error,  let  us  calmly  consider 
their  circumstance  ;  and,  the  better  to  do  it,  make 
their  case  ours.  Suppose,  then,  that  our  ancestors 
and  we  had  been  exposed  to  constant  servitude,  in 
the  more  servile  and  inferior  employments  of  life  ; 
that  we  had  been  destitute  of  the  help  of  reading 
and  good  company;  that  amongst  ourselves  we  had 
few  wise  and  pious  instructors ;  that  the  religious 
amongst  our  superiors  seldom  took  notice  of  us; 


256 

that  while  others/ in  ease,  have  plentifully  heaped 
up  the  fruit  of  our  labour,  we  had  received  barely 
enough  to  relieve  nature ;  and  being  wholly  at  the 
command  of  others,  had  generally  been  treated  as  a 
contemptible,  ignorant,,  part  of  mankind ;  should  we, 
in  that  case,  be  less  abject  than  they  now  are  ? 
Again,  if  oppression  be  so  hard  to  bear,  that  a  wise 
man  is  made  mad  by  it,  Eccl.  vii.  7.  then  a  series 
of  those  things  altering  the  behaviour  and  manners 
of  a  people,  is  what  may  reasonably  be  expected. 

When  our  property  is  taken  contrary  to  our 
mind,  by  means  appearing  to  us  unjust,  it  is  only 
through  divine  influence,  and  the  enlargement  of 
heart  from  thence  proceeding,  that  we  can  love  our 
reputed  oppressors.  If  the  Negroes  fall  short  in  this, 
an  uneasy,  if  not  a  disconsolate  disposition,  will  be 
awakened,  and  remain  like  seeds  in  their  minds, 
producing  sloth  and  many  other  habits  appearing 
odious  to  us ;  with  which,  being  freemen,  they  per 
haps,  had  not  been  chargeable.  These,  and  other 
circumstances,  rightly  considered,  will  lessen  that 
too  great  disparity  which  some  make  between  us 
and  them. 

Integrity  of  heart  hath  appeared  in  some  of  them, 
so  that  if  we  continue  in  the  word  of  Christ  (pre 
vious  to  discipieship,  John  viii.  31.)  and  our  con 
duct  towards  them  be  seasoned  with  his  love,  we 
may  hope  to  see  the  good  effect  of  it :  the  which,  in 
a  good  degree,  is  the  case  with  some  into  whose 
hands  they  have  fallen  ;  but  that  too  many  treat 
them  otherwise,  not  seeming  conscious  of  any  neg 
lect  is,  alas  !  too  evident, 


257 

When  self-love  presides  in  our  minds,  our  opi 
nions  are  biassed  in  our  own  favour.  In  this  condi 
tion.,  being  concerned  with  a  people  so  situated,  that 
they  have  no  voice  to  plead  their  own  cause,,  there  is 
danger  of  using  ourselves  to  an  undisturbed  par 
tiality,  till,  by  long  custom,,  the  mind  becomes  re 
conciled  with  it,  and  the  judgment  itself  infected. 

To  humbly  apply  to  God  for  wisdom,  that  we 
may  thereby  be  enabled  to  see  things  as  they  are, 
and  ought  to  be,  is  very  needful ;  hereby  the  hidden 
things  of  darkness  may  be  brought  to  light,  and  the 
judgment  made  clear  :  we  shall  then  consider  man 
kind  as  brethren.  Though  different  degrees,  and 
a  variety  of  qualifications  and  abilities,  one  depen 
dent  on  another,  be  admitted  ;  yet  high  thoughts 
will  be  laid  aside,  and  all  men  treated  as  becometh 
the  sons  of  one  father,  agreeable  to  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  Jesus. 

He  hath  laid  down  the  best  criterion,  by  which 
mankind  ought  to  judge  of  their  own  conduct,  and 
others  judge  for  them  of  theirs,  one  towards  ano 
ther,  viz.  "  Whatsoever  you  would  that  men  should 
do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them."  I  take  it,  that 
all  men  by  nature,  are  equally  entitled  to  the  equity 
of  this  rule,  and  under  the  indispensable  obligations 
of  it.  One  man  ought  not  to  look  upon  another 
man,  or  society  of  men,  as  so  far  beneath  him  ;  but 
that  he  should  put  himself  in  their  place,  in  all  his 
actions  towards  them,  and  bring  all  to  this  test,  viz. 
How  should  I  approve  of  this  conduct,  were  I  in 
their  circumstance,  and  they  in  mine?"  A.  Arscot's 
Considerations,  p.  iii.  fol.  107. 

R 


258 

This  doctrine  being  of  a  moral  unchangeable  na 
ture,  hath  been  likewise  inculcated  in  the  former 
dispensation  ;  fCIf  a  stranger  sojojjrn_with  Jthee,  in 


that    dwelleth    with^^you,    shall  be  as  jcm 
amongst  you,  and  thou  sjbialt  love  him  as^hy^lf/^ 


Lev.  xix.  33,  34.     Had  these  people  come  volunta-*" 
rily  and  dwelt  amongst   us,  to  have  called  them 
strangers  would  be  proper  ;  and  their  being  brought 
by  force,  with  regret,  and  a  languishing  mind,  may 
well  raise  compassion  in  a  heart  rightly  disposed  ; 
but  there  is  nothing  in  such  treatment,  which  upon 
a  wise  and  judicious  consideration,  will  in  any  wise 
lessen  their  right  of  being  treated  as  strangers.    If  the 
treatment  which  many  of  them  meet  with,  be  rightly 
examined  and  compared  with  these  precepts, cc  Thou 
shalt  not  vex  him  nor  oppress  him  ;  he  shall  be  as 
one  born  amongst  you,    and  thou  shalt  love  him 
as  thyself."  Lev.  xix  33.  Deut.  xxvii.   19.    there 
will  appear  an  important  difference  betwixt  them. 

It  may  be  objected  there  is  cost  of  purchase,  and 
risque  of  their  lives  to  them  who  possess  them,  and 
therefore  needful  that  they  make  the  best  use  of 
their  time.  In  a  practice  just  and  reasonable,  such 
objections  may  have  weight ;  but  if  the  work  be 
wrong  from  the  beginning,  there  is  little  or  no  force 
in  them.  If  I  purchase  a  man  who  hath  never  for 
feited  his  liberty,  the  natural  right  of  freedom  is  in 
him  ;  and  shall  I  keep  him  and  his  posterity  in  ser 
vitude  and  ignorance  ?  <f  How  should  I  approve  of 
this  conduct,  were  I  in  his  circumstances,  and  he  in 
mine?"  It  may  be  thought,  that  to  treat  them  as 


259 

we  would  willingly  be  treated,,  our  gain  by  them 
would  be  inconsiderable;  and  it  were,  in  divers 
respects.,  better  that  there  were  none  in  our  country. 
We  may  further  consider,  that  they  are  now 
amongst  us,,  and  those  of  our  nation  the  cause  of 
their  being  here  ;  that  whatsoever  difficulty  accrues 
thereon,  we  are  justly  chargeable  with,  and  to  bear 
all  inconveniences  attending  it,  with  a  serious  and 
weighty  concern  of  mind  to  do  our  duty  by  them, 
is  the  best  we  can  do.  To  seek  a  remedy  by  con 
tinuing  the  oppression,  because  we  have  power  to 
do  it,  and  see  others  do  it,  will,  I  apprehend,  not  be 
doing  as  we  would  be  done  by. 


How  deeply  soever  men  are  involved  in  the  most 
exquisite  difficulties,  sincerity  of  heart,  and  upright 
walking  before  God,  freely  submitting  to  his  pro 
vidence,  is  the  most  sure  remedy.  He  only  is  able 
to  relieve,  not  only  persons  but  nations,  in  their 
greatest  calamities.  ==— «• — n.'*", — 

David  in  a  great  strait,  when  the  sense  of  his  past 
error,  and  the  full  expectation  of  an  impending  ca 
lamity  as  the  reward  of  it,  were  united,  to  the 
aggravating  of  his  distress,  after  some  deliberation, 
saith,  "  Let  me  fall  now  into  the  hand  of  the  Lord, 
for  very  great  are  his  mercies  ;  but  let  me  not  fail 
into  the  hand  of  man/'  1  Chron.  xxi.  13. 

To  act  continually  with  integrity  of  heart,  above 
all  narrow  or  selfish  motives,  is  a  sure  token  of  our 
being  partakers  of  that  salvation  which  God  hath 
appointed  for  walls  and  bulwarks.  Isaiah,  xxvi.  1. 
and  is,  beyond  all  contradiction,  a  more  happy  situ 
ation  than  can  ever  be  promised  by  the  utmost  reach 

R2 


260 

of  art  and  power  united,  not  proceeding  from  hea 
venly  wisdom. 

A  supply  to  nature's  lawful  wants,  joined  with  a 
peaceful,  humble  mind,  is  the  truest  happiness  in 
this  life ;  and  if  here  we  arrive  to  this,  and  remain 
to  walk  in  the  path  of  the  just,  our  case  will  be  truly 
happy.  And  though  herein  we  may  part  with,  or 
miss  of  some  glaring  shows  of  riches,  and  leave  our 
children  little  else  but  wise  instructions,  a  good  ex 
ample,  and  the  knowledge  of  some  honest  employ 
ment  ;  these,  with  the  blessing  of  Providence,  are 
sufficient  for  their  happiness,  and  are  more  likely  to 
prove  so,  than  laying  up  treasures  for  them,  which 
are  often  rather  a  snare,  than  any  real  benefit ;  es 
pecially  to  them,  who  instead  of  being  exampled  to 
temperance,  are  in  all  things  taught  to  prefer  the 
getting  of  riches,  and  to  eye  the  temporal  distinc 
tions  they  give,  as  the  principle  business  of  this  life. 
These  readily  overlook  the  true  happiness  of  man, 
as  it  results  from  the  enjoyment  of  all  things  in  the 
fear  of  God ,  and,  miserably  substituting  an  inferior 
good,  dangerous  in  the  acquiring,  and  uncertain  in 
the  fruition,  they  are  subject  to  many  disappoint 
ments,  and  every  sweet  carries  its  sting. 

It  is  the  conclusion  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  his 
apostles,  as  appears  by  their  lives  and  doctrines, 
that  the  highest  delights  of  sense,  or  most  pleasing 
objects  visible,  ought  ever  to  be  accounted  infinitely 
inferior  to  that  real  intellectual  happiness  suited  to 
man  in  his  primitive  innocence,  and  now  to  be 
found  in  true  renovation  of  mind  ;  and  that  the 
comforts  of  our  present  life,  the  things  most  grateful 


261 

to  us,  ought  always  to  be  received  with  temperance,, 
and  never  made  the  chief  objects  of  our  desire, 
hope,  or  love  ;  but  that  our  whole  heart  and  affec 
tions  be  principally  looking  to  that  f(  city  which 
hath  foundations,,  whose  maker  and  builder  is  God." 
Did  we  so  improve  the  gifts  bestowed  on  us,  that 
our  children  might  have  an  education  suited  to 
these  doctrines,  and  our  example  to  confirm  it,  we 
might  rejoice  in  hopes  of  their  being  heirs  of  an  in 
heritance  incorruptible. 

This  inheritance,  as  Christians,  we  esteem  the 
most  valuable  ;  and  how  then  can  we  fail  to  desire 
it  for  our  children  ?  O  that  we  were  consistent 
with  ourselves,  in  pursuing  means  necessary  to  ob 
tain  it ! 

It  appears,  by  experience,  that  where  children 
educated  in  fulness,  ease,  and  idleness,  evil  habits 
are  more  s prevalent,  than,  in  common,  amongst 
such  as  are  prudently  employed  in  the  necessary 
affairs  of  life.  And  if  children  are  not  only  edu 
cated  in  the  way  of  so  great  temptation,  but  have 
also  the  opportunity  of  lording  it  over  their  fellow- 
creatures,  and  being  masters  of  men  in  their  child 
hood,  how  can  we  hope  otherwise  than  that  their 
tender  minds  will  be  possessed  with  thoughts  too 
high  for  them  ?  Which,  by  continuance,  gaining 
strength,  will  prove,  like  a  slow  current,  gradually 
separating  them  from  (or  keeping  from  acquaint 
ance  with)  that  humility  and  meekness  in  which 
alone  lasting  happiness  can  be  enjoyed. 

Man  is  born  to  labour,  and  experience  abun 
dantly  showeth,  that  it  is  for  our  good ;  but  whejre 


262 

the  powerful  lay  the  burthen  on  the  inferior,,  with 
out  affording  a  Christian  education,,  and  suitable 
opportunity  of  improving  the  mind,  and  a  treat 
ment  which  we,  in  their  case,  should  approve,  that 
themselves  may  live  at  ease/ and  fare  sumptuously, 
and  lay  up  riches  for  their  posterity,  this  seems  to 
contradict  the  design  of  Providence,  and,  I  doubt 
is  sometimes  the  effect  of  a  perverted  mind.  Per 
while  the  life  of  one  is  made  grievous  by  the  rigour 
of  another,  it  entails  misery  on  both. 

Amongst  the  manifold  works  of  Providence, 
displayed  in  the  different  ages  of  the  world,  these 
which  follow  (with  many  others)  may  afford  instruc 
tion. 

Abraham  was  called  of  God  to  leave  his  country 
and  kindred,  to  sojourn  amongst  strangers :  through 
famine,  and  danger  of  death,  he  was  forced  to  flee 
from  one  kingdom  to  another  He  at  length,  not 
only  had  assurance  of  being  the  father  of  many  na 
tions,  but  became  a  mighty  prince.  Gen.  xxiii.  6. 

Remarkable  were  the  dealings  of  God  with  Jacob 
in  a  low  estate  ;  the  just  sense  he  retained  of  them 
after  his  advancement,  appears  by  his  words :  (f  I  am 
not  worthy  of  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies."  Gen. 
xxxii.  10.  xlviii.  15. 

The  numerous  afflictions  of  Joseph  are  very  sin 
gular  ;  the  particular  providence  of  God  therein,  no 
less  manifest.  He,  at  length,  became  governor  of 
Egypt,  and  famous  for  wisdom  arid  virtue. 

The  series  of  troubles  David  passed  through,  few 
amongst  us  are  ignorant  of.  And  yet  he  after 
wards  became  as  one  of  the  great  men  of  the  earth. 


263 

Some  evidence  of  the  divine  wisdom  appears  in 
these  things,  in  that  such  as  are  intended  for 
high  stations,,  have  first  been  very  low  and  dejected, 
that  truth  might  be  sealed  on  their  hearts ;  and 
that  the  characters  there  imprinted  by  bitterness 
and  adversity,  might  in  after  years  remain,  sug 
gesting  compassionate  ideas,  and  in  their  prosperity, 
quicken  their  regard  to  those  in  the  like  condi 
tion  ;  which  yet  further  appears  in  the  case  of 
Israel.  They  were  well  acquainted  with  grievous 
sufferings,  a  long  and  rigorous  servitude ;  then 
through  many  notable  events,  were  made  chief 
amongst  the  nations.  To  them  we  find  a  repetition 
of  precepts  to  the  purpose  abovesaid  ;  though,  for 
ends  agreeable  to  infinite  wisdom,  they  were  chosen 
as  a  peculiar  people  for  a  time ;  yet  the  Most 
High  acquaints  them,  that  his  love  is  not  confined, 
but  extends  to  the  stranger ;  and,  to  excite  their 
compassion,  reminds  them  of  times  past,  (e  Ye  were 
strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt."  Deut.  x.  19. 
Again,  c<  Thou  shalt  not  oppress  a  stranger,  for  ye  y 
know  the  heart  of  a  stranger,  seeing  ye  werestran- 
gers  in  the  land  of  Egypt/'  Exodus  xxiii.  9. 

If  we  call  to  mind  our  beginning,  some  of  us 
may  find  a  time,  wherein  our  fathers  were  under 
afflictions,  reproaches,  and  manifold  sufferings. 

Respecting  our  progress  in  this  land,  the  time  is 
short  since  our  beginning  was  small  and  number 
few,  compared  with  the  native  inhabitants.  He  that 
sleeps  not  by  day  nor  night,  hath  watched  over  us, 
and  kept  us,  as  the  apple  of  his  eye.  His  almighty 
arm  hath  been  round  about  us,  and  saved  us  from 
dangers. 


264 

The  wilderness  and  solitary  deserts  in  which  our 
fathers  passed  the  days  of  their  pilgrimage,,  are  now 
turned  into  pleasant  fields ;  the  natives  are  gone 
from  before  us,,  and  we  established  peaceably  in  the 
possession  of  the  land,  enjoying  our  civil  and  reli 
gious  liberties ;  and  while  many  parts  of  the  world 
have  groaned  under  the  heavy  calamities  of  war., 
our  habitation  remains  quiet,,  and  our  land  fruitful. 

When  we  trace  back  the  steps  we  have  trodden,, 
and  see  how  the  Lord  hath  opened  a  way  in  the 
wilderness  for  us.,  to  the  wise  it  will  easily  appear, 
that  all  this  was  not  done  to  be  buried  in  oblivion  ; 
but  to  prepare  a  people  for  more  fruitful  returns, 
and  the  remembrance  thereof  ought  to  humble  us 
in  prosperity,  and  excite  in  us  a  Christian  benevo 
lence  towards  our  inferiors. 

If  we  do  not  consider  these  things  aright,  but, 
through  a  stupid  indolence,  conceive  views  of  inte 
rest,  separate  from  the  general  good  of  the  great 
brotherhood,  and,  in  pursuance  thereof,  treat  our 
inferiors  with  rigour,  to  increase  our  wealth,  and 
gain  riches  for  our  children  ;  what  then  shall  we  do 
6 '  when  God  riseth  up  ?  and  when  he  visiteth,  what 
shall  we  answer  him  ?  did  not  He  that  made  us, 
make  them  ?  and  did  not  one  fashion  us  in  the 
womb?"  Job  xxxi.  13,  14. 

To  our  great  master  we  stand  or  fall,  to  judge  or 
condemn  us  as  is  most  suitable  to  his  wisdom  or 
authority.  My  inclination  is  to  persuade,  and  in- 
treat,  and  simply  give  hints  of  my  way  of  thinking. 

If  the  Christian  religion  be  considered,  both  re 
specting  its  doctrines,  and  the  happy  influence 


265 

which  it  hath  on  the  minds  and  manners  of  all  real 
Christians,  it  looks  reasonable  to  think,  that  the 
miraculous  manifestation  thereof  to  the  world,  is  a 
kindness  beyond  expression. 

Are  we  the  people  thus  favoured  ?  are  we  they 
whose  minds  are  opened,  influenced,  and  governed 
by  the  Spirit  of  Christ,,  and  thereby  made  sons  of 
God  ?  is  it  not  a  fair  conclusion,  that  we,  like  our 
heavenly  Father,  ought,  in  our  degree,  to  be  ac 
tive  in  the  same  great  cause  of  the  eternal  happiness 
of,  at  least,  our  whole  families,  and  more,  if  thereto 
capacitated  ? 

If  we,  by  the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
become  heirs  with  him  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father, 
and  are  redeemed  from  the  alluring  counterfeit  joys 
of  this  world,  arid  the  joy  of  Christ  remain  in  us, — to 
suppose  that  one  remaining  in  this  happy  condition, 
can,  for  the  sake  of  earthly  riches,  not  only  deprive 
his  fellow-creatures  of  the  sweetness  of  freedom, 
(which  rightly  used,  is  one  of  the  greatest  temporal 
blessings,)  but  therewith  neglect  using  proper  means, 
for  their  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and 
the  advantage  of  true  religion,  seems  at  least  a  con 
tradiction  to  reason. 

Whoever  rightly  advocates  the  cause  of  some, 
thereby  promotes  the  good  of  all.  The  state  of 
mankind  was  harmonious  in  the  beginning,  and 
though  sin  hath  introduced  discord,  yet  through  the 
wonderful  love  of  God,  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord, 
the  way  is  open  for  our  redemption,  and  means  ap 
pointed  to  restore  us  to  primitive  harmony.  That 
if  one  suffer  by  the  unfaithfulness  of  another,  the 


266 

mind,  the  most  noble  part  of  him  that  occasions  the 
discord,  is  thereby  alienated  from  its  true  and  real 
happiness. 

Our  duty  and  interest  are  inseparably  united,  and 
when  we  neglect  or  misuse  our  talents,  we  necessa 
rily  depart  from  the  heavenly  fellowship,  and  are  in 
the  way  to  the  greatest  of  evils. 

Therefore  to  examine  and  prove  ourselves,  to  find 
what  harmony  the  power  presiding  in  us  bears  with 
the  divine  nature,  is  a  duty  not  more  incumbent  and 
necessary,  than  it  would  be  beneficial. 

In  Holy  Writ  the  Divine  Being  saith  of  Himself, 
ff  I  am  the  Lord,  which  exercise  loving-kindness, 
judgment  and  righteousness  in  the  earth;  for  in 
these  things  I  delight,  saith  the  Lord/'  Jer.  ix.  24. 
Again,  speaking  in  the  way  of  man,  to  show  his 
compassion  to  Israel,  whose  wickedness  had  occa 
sioned  a  calamity,  and  then  being  humbled  under 
it,  it  is  said,  His  soul  was  grieved  for  their  miseries. 
Judges  x.  16.  If  we  consider  the  life  of  our  blessed 
Saviour  when  on  eartly,  as  it  is  recorded  by  his  fol 
lowers,  we  shall  find,  that  one  uniform  desire  for 
the  eternal,  and  temporal  good  of  mankind,  disco 
vered  itself  in  all  his  actions. 

If  we  observe  men,  both  apostles  and  others,  in 
many  different  ages,  who  have  really  come  to  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  fellowship  of  the  saints, 
there  still  appears  the  like  disposition,  and  in  them 
the  desire  of  the  real  happiness  of  mankind,  has  out 
balanced  the  desire  of  ease,  liberty,  and  many  times, 
life  itself. 

If  upon  a  true  search,  we  find  that  our  natures 


267 

are  so  far  renewed,  that  to  exercise  righteousness 
arid  loving-kindness  (according  to  our  ability)  to 
wards  all  men,  without  respect  of  persons,  is  easy 
to  us,  or  is  our  delight;  if  our  love  be  so  orderly 
and  regular,  that  he  who  doeth  the  will  of  our 
Father,  who  is  in  heaven,  appears  in  our  view,  to 
be  our  nearest  relation,  our  brother,  and  sister,  and 
mother ;  if  this  be  our  case,  there  is  a  good  founda 
tion  to  hope,  that  the  blessing  of  God  will  sweeten 
our  treasures  during  our  stay  in  this  life,  and  our 
memory  be  savory,  when  we  are  entered  into  rest. 

To  conclude,  it  is  a  truth  most  certain,  that  a  life 
guided. by  wisdom  from  above,  agreeable  with  jus 
tice,  equity,  and  mercy,  is  throughout  consistent 
and  amiable,  and  truly  beneficial  to  society ;  the 
serenity  and  calmness  of  mind  in  it,  affords  an  un- 
parallelled  comfort  in  this  life,  and  the  end  of  it  is 
blessed. 

And  no  less  true  that  they,  who  in  the  midst  of 
high  favours,  remain  ungrateful,  and,  under  all  the 
advantages  that  a  Christian  can  desire,  are  selfish, 
earthly  and  sensual,  do  miss  the  true  fountain  of 
happiness,  and  wander  in  a  maze  of  dark  anxiety, 
where  all  their  treasures  are  insufficient  to  quiet  their 
minds :  hence,  from  an  insatiable  craving,  they  neg 
lect  doing  good  with  what  they  have  acquired,  and 
too  often  add  oppression  to  vanity,  that  they  may 
compass  more. 

"  O  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  understood 
this,  that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end  \" 
Deut.  xxxii.29. 


CONSIDERATIONS 

ON   THB 

KEEPING    OF    NEGROES. 

Recommended  to  the  Professors  of  Christianity  of 
every  Denomination. 

[First  printed  in  the  Year  1762.] 


PART  THB  SECOND. 


PREFACE. 

ALL  our  actions  are  of  like  nature  with  their  root  ; 
and  the  Most  High  weigheth  them  more  skilfully 
than  men  can  weigh  them  one  for  another. 

I  believe  that  one  Supreme  Being  made  and  sup 
ports  the  world ;  nor  can  I  worship  any  other  Deity 
without  being  an  idolater,  and  guilty  of  wickedness. 

Many  nations  have  believed  in,  and  worshipped, 
a  plurality  of  deities;  but  I  do  not  believe  they 
were  therefore  all  wicked.  Idolatry,  indeed,  is 
wickedness;  but  it  is  the  thing,  not  the  name, 
which  is  so.  Real  idolatry  is  to  pay  that  adoration 
to  a  creature,  which  is  known  to  be  due  only  to  the 
true  God. 

He  who  professeth  to  believe  one  Almighty  Cre 
ator,  and  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  is  yet  more 
intent  on  the  honours,  profits,  and  friendships  of  the 
world,  than  he  is  in  singleness  of  heart  to  stand  faith- 


S69 

ful  to  the  Christian  religion,  is  in  the  channel  of  i 
atry ;  while  the  Gentile,  who,  under  some  mistaken 
opinions,  is,  notwithstanding,  established  in  the 
true  principle  of  virtue,  and  humbly  adores  an 
Almighty  power,  may  be  of  that  number  who  fear 
God,  and  work  righteousness. 

I  believe  the  bishop  of  Rome  assumes  a  power 
that  does  not  belong  to  any  officer  in  the  church  of 
Christ ;  and  if  I  should  knowingly  do  any  thing 
tending  to  strengthen  him  in  that  capacity,  it  would 
be  great  iniquity.  There  are  many  thousands  of 
people  who,  by  their  profession,  acknowledge  him 
to  be  the  representative  of  Jesus  Christ  on  earth; 
and  to  say  that  none  of  them  are  upright  in  heart, 
would  be  contrary  to  rny  sentiments. 

Men  who  sincerely  apply  their  minds  to  true 
virtue,  and  find  an  inward  support  from  above,  by 
which  all  vicious  inclinations  are  made  subject; 
they  that  love  God  sincerely,  and  prefer  the  real 
good  of  mankind  universally  to  their  own  private 
interest;  though  these,  through  the  strength  of 
education  and  tradition,  may  remain  under  some 
speculative  and  great  errors,  it  would  be  unchari 
table  to  say,  that  therefore  God  rejects  them.  He 
who  creates,  supports,  and  gives  understanding  to 
all  men,  his  knowledge  and  goodness  is  superior  to 
the  various  cases  and  circumstances  of  his  creatures, 
which  to  us  appear  the  most  difficult. 

The  apostles  and  primitive  Christians  did  riot 
censure  all  the  Gentiles  as  wicked  men,  Rom.  ii.  14.  ; 
Col.  iii.  11.;  but  as  they  were  favoured  with  a  gift 
to  discern  things  more  clearly,  respecting  the  wor- 


270 

ship  of  the  true  God,  they,  with  much  firmness, 
declared  against  the  worshipping  of  idols ;  and  with 
true  patience,  endured  many  sufferings  on  that 
account. 

Great  numbers  of  faithful  Protestants  have  con 
tended  for  the  truth,  in  opposition  to  papal  errors  ; 
and,  with  true  fortitude,  laid  down  their  lives  in  the 
conflict,  without  saying,  That  no  man  was  saved 
who  made  profession  of  that  religion. 

While  we  have  no  right  to  keep  men  as  servants 
for  term  of  life,  but  that  of  superior  power ;  to  do 
this,  with  design  by  their  labour  to  profit  ourselves 
and  our  families,  I  believe  is  wrong ;  but  I  do  not 
believe  that  all  who  have  kept  slaves,  have  therefore 
been  chargeable  with  guilt.  If  their  motives 
thereto  were  free  from  selfishness,  and  their  slaves 
content,  they  were  a  sort  of  freemen  ;  which  I 
believe  hath  sometimes  been  the  case. 

Whatever  a  man  does  in  the  spirit  of  charity,  to 
him  it  is  not  sin ;  and  while  he  lives  and  acts  in 
this  spirit,  he  learns  all  things  essential  to  his  hap 
piness  as  an  individual :  and  if  he  doth  not  see  that 
any  injury  or  injustice,  to  any  other  person,  is  ne 
cessarily  promoted  by  any  part  of  his  form  of  go 
vernment,  I  believe  the  merciful  Judge  will  not  lay 
iniquity  to  his  charge.  Yet  others,  who  live  in  the 
same  spirit  of  charity,  from  a  clear  convincement, 
may  see  th,e  relation  of  one  thing  to  another,  and 
the  necessary  tendency  of  each  ;  and  hence  it  may 
be  absolutely  binding  on  them  to  desist  from  some 
parts  of  conduct,  which  some  good  men  have  been 
in. 


CONSIDERATIONS,  &c. 


"  Ye  shall  not  respect  persons  in  judgment ;  but  you  shall  hear 
the  small  as  well  as  the  great :  you  shall  not  be  afraid  of  the  face 
of  man  ;  for  the  judgment  is  God's." — DEPT^I.  17. 

As  some  in  most  religious  societies  amongst  the 
English  are  concerned  in  importing  or  purchasing 
the  inhabitants  of  Africa  as  slaves,  and  as  the  pro 
fessors  of  Christianity  of  several  other  nations  do 
the  like ;  these  circumstances  tend  to  make  people 
less  apt  to  examine  the  practice  so  closely  as  they 
would  be  if  such  a  thing  had  not  been,  but  was  now 
proposed  to  be  entered  upon.  It  is  however  our 
duty,  and  what  concerns  us  individually,  as 
creatures  accountable  to  our  Creator,  to  employ 
rightly  the  understanding  which  He  hath  given  us, 
in  humbly  endeavouring  to  be  acquainted  with  his 
will  concerning  us,  and  with  the  nature  and  ten 
dency  of  those  things  which  we  practise  :  for  as 
justice  remains  to  be  justice,  so  many  people  of 
reputation  in  the  world,  joining  with  wrong  things, 
do  not  excuse  others  in  joining  with  them,  nor 
make  the  consequence  of  their  proceedings  less 


272 

dreadful  in  the  final  issue,  than  it  would  otherwise 
be. 

Where  unrighteousness  is  justified  from  one  age 
to  another,  it  is  like  dark  matter  gathering  into 
clouds  over  us.  We  may  know  that  this  gloom 
will  remain  till  the  cause  be  removed  by  a  reforma 
tion,  or  change  of  times ;  and  may  feel  a  desire, 
from  a  love  of  equity,  to  speak  on  the  occasion  ; 
yet,  where  error  is  so  strong  that  it  may  not  be 
spoken  against  without  some  prospect  of  inconve 
nience  to  the  speaker,  this  difficulty  is  likely  to 
operate  on  our  weakness,  and  quench  the  good 
desires  in  us;  except  we  dwell  so  steadily  under 
the  weight  of  it  as  to  be  made  willing  to  cc  endure 
hardness"  on  that  account. 

Where  men  exert  their  talents  against  vices, 
generally  accounted  such,  the  ill  effects  whereof  are 
presently  perceived  in  a  government,  all  men  who 
regard  their  own  temporal  good,  are  likely  to 
approve  the  work.  But  when  that  which  is  in 
consistent  with  perfect  equity,  hath  the  law  or 
countenance  of  the  great  in  its  favour,  though  the 
tendency  thereof  be  quite  contrary  to  the  true  hap 
piness  of  mankind,  in  an  equal  if  not  greater 
degree  than  many  things  accounted  reproachful 
to  Christians ;  yet,  as  these  ill  effects  are  not  gene 
rally  perceived,  they  who  labour  to  dissuade  from 
such  things,  which  people  believe  accord  with  their 
interest,  have  many  difficulties  to  encounter. 

The  repeated  charges  which  God  gave  to  his 
prophets,  imply  the  danger  they  were  in  of  erring  on 
this  hand.  f<  Be  not  afraid  of  their  faces;  for  I  am 


273 

\\itli  thee,  to  deliver  thee,  saith  the  Lord." — Jer.  i,  8; 
f '  Speak  all  the  words  that  I  command  thee  to  speak 
to  them ;  diminish  not  a  word/' — Jer.  xxvi.  2. 
(c  And  thou,  son  of  man,  be  not  afraid  of  them,  nor 
dismayed  at  their  looks.  Speak  my  words  to  them, 
whether  they  will  hear  or  forbear/' — Ezek.  ii.  6,  7. 

Under  an  apprehension  of  duty,  I  offer  some 
further  considerations  on  this  subject,,  having  en 
deavoured  some  years  to  consider  it  candidly.  I 
have  observed  people  of  our  own  colour,  whose 
abilities  have  been  inferior  to  the  affairs  which  relate 
to  their  convenient  subsistence,  who  have  been 
taken  care  of  by  others,  and  the  profit  of  such  work 
as  they  could  do,  applied  toward  their  support.  I 
believe  there  are  such  amongst  negroes  ;  and  that 
some  people,  in  whose  hands  they  are,  keep  them 
with  no  view  of  outward  profit,  do  not  consider 
them  as  black  men,  who,  as  such,  ought  to  serve 
white  men ;  but  account  them  persons  who  have 
need  of  guardians,  and  as  such  take  care  of  them ; 
yet,  where  equal  care  is  taken  in  all  parts  of  educa 
tion,  I  do  not  apprehend  cases  of  this  sort  are 
likely  to  occur  more  frequently  amongst  one  sort 
of  people  than  another. 

It  looks  to  me  that  the  slave  trade  was  founded; -x, 
and  hath  generally  been  carried  on  in  a  wrong 
spirit ;  that  the  effects  of  it  are  detrimental  to  the 
real  prosperity  of  our  country  ;  and  will  be  more 
so,  except  we  cease  from  the  common  motives  of 
keeping  them,  and  treat  them  in  future  agreeably 
to  truth  and  pure  justice. 

Negroes  may  be  imported,  who,  for  their  cruelty 


274 

to  their  countrymen,,   and  the  evil  disposition    of 
their  minds,  may  be  unfit  to  be  at  liberty ;  and  if 
we,  as  lovers  of  righteousness,,  undertake  the  ma 
nagement  of  them,  we  should  have  a  full  and  clear 
knowledge  of  their  crimes,,  and  of  those  circum 
stances  which  might  operate  in  their  favour ;  but 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  this  is  so  great,  that  we 
have  great    reason    to  be  cautious  therein.     But,, 
should  it  plainly  appear,  that  absolute  subjection 
Was  a  condition  the  most  proper  for  the  person 
who  is  purchased,  yet  the  innocent  children  ought 
not  to  be  made  slaves  because  their  parents  sinned. 
We  have  account  in  Holy  Scripture  of  some  fa 
milies  suffering,  where  mention  is  only  made  of  the 
heads  of  the  family  committing  wickedness  ;  and  it 
is  likely  that  the  degenerate  Jews,  misunderstand 
ing  some  occurrences  of  this  kind,  took  occasion  to 
charge  God  with  being  unequal ;  so  that  a  saying 
became  common,  "  The  fathers  have  eaten  sour 
grapes,  and  the  childrens'  teeth  are  set  on  edge/' 
Jeremiah  and  Ezekiel,  two  of  the  inspired  prophets, 
who  lived  near  the  same  time,  were  concerned  to 
correct  this  error.     Ezekiel  is  large  on  the  subject. 
First,  he  reproves  them  for  their  error.     cf  What 
mean  ye,  that  ye  do  so/*  chap,  xviii.  verse  2.    "  As 
I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  ye  shall  not  have  occasion 
any  more  to  use  this  proverb  in  Israel/'    The  words 
(t  any  more"  have  reference  to  time  past ;  intimat 
ing,  that  though  they  had  not  rightly  understood 
some  things  they  had  heard  or  seen,   and  thence 
supposed   the  proverb  to  be  well  grounded  ;  yet 
henceforth  they  might  know  of  a  certainty,  that 


275 

the  ways  of  God  are  all  equal ;  that  as  sure  as  the 
Most  High  liveth,  so  sure  men  are  only  answerable 
for  their  own  sins.  He  thus  sums  up  the  matter, 
ver.  20.  fc  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die.  The 
son  shall  not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  father ;  neither 
shall  the  father  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  son.  The 
righteousness  of  the  righteous  shall  be  upon  him  ; 
and  the  wickedness  of  the  wicked  shall  be  upon 
him/' 

Where  men  are  wicked,  they  commonly  are  a 
means  of  corrupting  the  succeeding  age;  and 
thereby  hasten  those  outward  calamities,  which  fall 
on  nations^,  when  their  iniquities  are  full. 

Men  may  pursue  means  which  are  not  agreeable 
to  perfect  purity,  with  a  view  to  increase  the  wealth 
and  happiness  of  their  offspring,  and  thereby  make 
the  way  of  virtue  more  difficult  to  them.  And 
though  the  ill  example  of  a  parent,  or  a  multitude, 
does  not  excuse  a  man  in  doing  evil,  yet  the  mind 
being  early  impressed  with  vicious  notions  and 
practices,,  and  nurtured  up  in  ways  of  getting 
treasure,  which  are  not  the  ways  of  truth ;  this 
wrong  spirit  getting  first  possession,  and  being  thus 
strengthened,  frequently  prevents  due  attention  to 
the  true  spirit  of  wisdom,  so  that  they  exceed  in 
wickedness  those  who  lived  before  them.  And  in 
this  channel,  though  parents  labour,  as  they  think, 
to  forward  the  happiness  of  their  children,  it  proves 
a  means  of  forwarding  their  calamity.  This  being 
the  case  in  the  age  next  before  the  grievous  cala 
mity  in  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  and  carrying  Judah 
captive  to  Babylon,  they  might  say  with  propriety, 


216 

This  came  upon  us  because  our  fathers  forsook 
God,  and  because  we  did  worse  than  our  fathers. 
See  Jer.  vii.  26. 

As  the  generation  next  before  them  inwardly 
turned  away  from  God,  who  yet  waited  to  be  gra 
cious;  and  as  they  in  that  age  continued  in  those 
things  which  necessarily  separated  from  perfect 
goodness,  growing  more  stubborn,  till  the  judg 
ments  of  God  were  poured  out  upon  them  ;  they 
might  properly  say,  ec  Our  fathers  have  sinned,,  and 
we  have  borne  their  iniquities/' — Lam.  v.  ?.  And 
yet,  wicked  as  their  fathers  were,  had  they  not  suc 
ceeded  them  in  their  wickedness,  they  had  not 
borne  their  iniquities. 

To  suppose  it  right,  that  an  innocent  man  shall 
at  this  day  be  excluded  from  the  common  rules  of 
justice ;  be  deprived  of  that  liberty,  which  is  the 
natural  right  of  human  creatures,  and  be  a  slave  to 
others  during  life,  on  account  of  a  sin  committed 
by  his  immediate  parents,  or  a  sin  committed  by 
Ham,  the  son  of  Noah  ;  is  a  supposition  too  gross 
to  be  admitted  into  the  mind  of  any  person  who 
sincerely  desires  to  be  governed  by  solid  principles. 

It  is  alleged,  in  favour  of  the  practice,  that 
Joshua  made  slaves  of  the  Gibeonites. 

What  men  do  by  the  command  of  God,  and  what 
comes  to  pass  as  a  consequence  of  their  neglect, 
are  different ;  such  as  the  latter  case  now  mentioned 


It  was  the  express  command  of  the  Almighty  to 
Israel,  concerning  the  inhabitants  of  the  promised 
land,  "  Thou  shalt  make  no  covenant  with  them, 


217 

nor  with  their  gods :  they  shall  not  dwell  in  thy 
land/' — Exod.  xxiii.  32.  Those  Gibeonites  came 
craftily,  telling-  Joshua,  that  they  were  come  from 
a  far  country ;  that  their  elders  had  sent  them  to 
make  a  league  with  the  people  of  Israel ;  and  as  an 
evidence  of  their  being  foreigners,,  showed  their  old 
clothes,,  &c.  ff  And  the  men  took  of  their  victuals, 
and  asked  not  counsel  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lord; 
and  Joshua  made  peace  with  them,,  and  made  a 
league  w  ith  them,  to  let  them  live ;  and  the  princes 
sware  to  them." — Josh.  ix.  14,  15. 

When  the  imposition  was  discovered,  the  con 
gregation  murmured  against  the  princes:  "  But  all 
the  princes  said  to  all  the  congregation,  we  have 
sworn  to  them  by  the  Lord  God  of  Israel ;  now 
therefore  we  may  not  touch  them ;  we  will  even 
let  them  live,  lest  wrath  be  upon  us ;  but  let  them 
be  hewers  of  wood,  and  drawers  of  water  unto  the 
congregation." 

Omitting  to  ask  counsel,,  involved  them  in  great 
difficulty.  The  Gibeonites  were  of  those  cities,  of 
which  the  Lord  said,  "  Thou  shalt  save  alive  nothing 
that  breatheth;"  and  of  the  stock  of  the  Hivites, 
concerning  whom  he  commanded  by  name,  "  Thou 
shalt  smite  them,  and  utterly  destroy  them.  Thou 
shalt  make  no  covenant  with  them,  nor  show  mercy 
unto  them/'  Dent.  vii.  1.  Thus  Joshua  and  the 
princes  not  knowing  them,  had  made  a  league  with 
lliem,  to  let  them  live ;  and  in  this  strait  they  re 
solve  to  make  them  servants.  Joshua  and  the 
princes  suspected  them  to  be  deceivers :  "  Perad- 
venture  you  dwell  amongst  us :  and  how  shall  we 


273 

make  a  league  with  you  ?"  Which  words  show, 
that  they  remembered  the  command  before-men 
tioned  ;  and  yet  did  not  enquire  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Lord,  as  Moses  directed  Joshua,  when  he  gave 
him  a  charge  respecting  his  duty  as  chief  man 
among  that  people.  Numb,  xxvii.  21.  By  this 
omission  things  became  so  situated,  that  Joshua 
and  the  princes  could  not  execute  the  judgments 
of  God  on  them,  without  violating  the  oath  which 
they  had  made. 

Moses  did  amiss  at  the  waters  of  Meribah  ;  and 
doubtless  he  soon  repented  ;  for  the  Lord  was  with 
him.  And  it  is  likely  that  Joshua  was  deeply  hum 
bled,  under  a  sense  of  his  omission  ;  for  it  appears 
that  God  continued  him  in  his  office,  and  spared 
the  lives  of  those  people,  for  the  sake  of  the  league 
and  oath  made  in  his  name. 

The  wickedness  of  these  people  was  great,  and 
they  worthy  to  die,  or  perfect  justice  had  not  pas 
sed  sentence  of  death  upon  them  ;  and  as  their  ex 
ecution  was  prevented  by  this  league  and  oath, 
they  appear  content  to  be  servants:  "  As  it  seemeth 
good  and  right  unto  thee  to  do  unto  us,  do." 

These  criminals,  instead  of  death  had  the  sen 
tence  of  servitude  pronounced  on  them,  in  these 
words,  <f  Now  therefore  ye  are  cursed  ;  arid  there 
shall  none  of  you  be  freed  from  being  bondmen, 
and  hewers  of  wood,  and  drawers  of  water  for  the 
house  of  my  God." 

We  find,  Deut.  xx.  10,  that  there  were  cities  far 
distant  from  Canaan,  against  which,  Israel  went  to 
battle ;  unto  which  they  were  to  proclaim  peace^ 


279 

avid  if  the  inhabitants  made  answer  of  peace,,  and 
opened  their  gates,,  they  were  not  to  destroy  them, 
but  make  them  tributaries. 

The  children  of  Israel  were  then  the  Lord's 
host,  and  executioners  of  his  judgments  on  people 
hardened  in  wickedness — They  were  not  to  go  to 
battle,  but  by  his  appointment.  The  men  who 
were  chief  in  his  army,  had  their  instruction  from 
the  Almighty ;  sometimes  immediately,  and  some 
times  by  the  ministry  of  angels.  Of  these,,  amongst 
others,  were  Moses.,  Joshua,  Othniel,  and  Gideon ; 
see  Exod.  iii.  2,  and  xviii.  19.  Josh.  v.  13.  These 
people  far  off  from  Canaan,  against  whom  Israel 
was  sent  to  battle,  were  so  corrupt,  that  the  Creator 
of  the  universe  saw  it  good  to  change  their  situa 
tion  ;  and  in  case  of  their  opening  their  gates,  and 
coming  under  tribute,  this  their  subjection,  though 
probably  more  mild  than  absolute  slavery,  was  to 
last  little  or  no  longer  than  while  Israel  remained 
in  the  true  spirit  of  government. 

It  was  pronounced  by  Moses  the  prophet  as  a 
consequence  of  their  wickedness,  "  The  stranger 
that  is  within  thee  shall  get  above  thee  very  high  ; 
and  thoii  shalt  come  down  very  low.  He  shall  be 
the  head,  and  thou  the  tail/'  Deut.  xxviii.  43,  44. 

This  we  find  in  some  measure  verified  in  their 
being  made  tributaries  to  the  Moabites,  Midianiles, 
Ainorites  and  Philistines. 

It  is  alleged  in  favour  of  the  practice  of  slave- 
keeping,  that  the  Jews  by  their  law  made  slaves  of 
the  Heathen.  Lev.  xxv.  45.  4f  Moreover,  of  the 
children  of  the  strangers  that  do  sojourn  amongst 


280 

you,  of  them  shall  ye  buy,  and  of  their  children, 
which  are  with  you,  which  they  begat  in  your  land ; 
and  they  shall  be  your  possession ;  and  you  shall 
take  them  as  an  inheritance  for  your  children  after 
you,  to  inherit  them  as  a  possession,  they  shall  be 
your  bondmen  for  ever." — It  is  difficult  for  us  to 
have  any  certain  knowledge  of  the  mind  of  Moses, 
in  regard  to  keeping  slaves,  any  other  way  than  by 
looking  upon  him  as  a  true  servant  of  God,  whose 
mind  and  conduct  were  regulated  by  an  inward 
principle  of  justice  and  equity.  To  admit  a  sup 
position  that  he  in  that  case  was  drawn  from  per 
fect  equity  by  the  alliance  of  outward  kindred, 
would  be  to  disown  his  authority. 

Abraham  had  servants  born  in  his  house,  arid 
bought  with  his  money  :  (<  And  the  Almighty  said 
of  Abraham,  I  know  him,  that  he  will  order  his 
house  after  him."  Which  implies,  that  he  was  a 
father,  an  instructor,  and  a  good  governor  over  his 
people — And  Moses,  considered  as  a  man  of  God, 
must  necessarily  have  had  a  prospect  of  some  real 
advantage  in  the  strangers  and  heathens  being  ser 
vants  to  the  Israelites  for  a  time. 

As  mankind  had  received  and  established  many 
erroneous  opinions  and  hurtful  customs,  their  living 
and  conversing  with  the  Jews,  while  the  Jews  stood 
faithful  to  their  principles,  might  be  helpful  to  re 
move  those  errors,  and  reform  their  manners.  But 
for  men,  with  private  views,  to  assume  an  absolute 
power  over  the  persons  and  properties  of  others  ; 
and  continue  it  from  age  to  age  in  the  line  of  na 
tural  generation,  without  regard  lo  the  virtues  arid 


281 

vices  of  their  successors,,  as  it  is  manifestly  contrary 
to  true  universal  love,  and  attended  with  great 
evils,  there  requires  the  clearest  evidence  to  beget  a 
belief  in  us,  that  Moses  intended  that  the  strangers 
should,  as  such,  be  slaves  to  the  Jews. 

He  directed  them  to  buy  strangers  and  sojour- 
ners.  It  appears  that  there  were  strangers  in  Israel 
who  were  free  men  ;  and  considering  with  what 
tenderness  and  humanity  the  Jews,  by  their  law, 
were  obliged  to  use  their  servants,  and  what  care 
was  to  be  taken  to  instruct  them  in  the  true  reli 
gion,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  some  strangers  in  poverty 
and  distress  were  willing  to  enter  into  bonds  to 
serve  the  Jews  as  Ipng  as  they  lived  ;  and  in  such 
case  the  Jews,  by  their  law,  had  a  right  to  their 
service  during  life. 

When  the  awl  was  bored  through  the  ear  of  the 
Hebrew  servant,  the  text  saith,  ff  He  shall  serve  for 
ever ;"  yet  we  do  not  suppose  that  by  the  word 
"  for  ever/'  it  was  intended  that  none  of  his  poste 
rity  should  afterwards  be  free.  When  it  is  said  in 
regard  to  the  strangers  which  they  bought,  "  They 
shall  be  your  possession/'  it  may  be  well  under 
stood  to  mean  only  the  persons  so  purchased  ;  all 
preceding  relates  to  buying  them;  and  what  fol 
lows,  to  the  continuance  of  their  service,  "  You 
shall  take  them  as  an  inheritance  to  your  children 
after  you ;  they  shall  be  your  bondmen  for  ever.'* 
It  may  be  well  understood  to  stand  limited  to  those 
they  purchased. 

Moses  directing  Aaron  and  his  sons  to  wash  their 
hands  and  feet,  when  they  went  into  the  tabernacle 


282 

of  the  congregation,  saith,  (C  It  shall  be  a  statute 
for  ever  to  them,  even  to  him  and  his  seed  through 
out  all  generations."  And  to  express  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  law,,  it  was  his  common  language,, 
"  It  shall  be  a  statute  for  ever  throughout  your 
generations/'  So  that  had  he  intended  the  pos 
terity  of  the  strangers  so  purchased  to  continue  in 
slavery  to  the  Jews.,  it  looks  likely  that  he  would 
have  used  some  terms  clearly  to  express  it.  The 
Jews  undoubtedly  had  slaves,,  whom  they  kept  as 
such  from  one  age  to  another;  but  that  this  was 
agreeable  to  the  genuine  design  of  their  inspired 
law-giver,  is  far  from  being  a  clear  case. 

Making  constructions  of  the  law  contrary  to  the 
true  meaning  of  it,  was  common  amongst  that 
people.  Samuel's  sons  took  bribes,  and  perverted 
judgment — Isaiah  complained  that  they  justified 
the  wicked  for  reward — Zephaniah,  coternporary 
with  Jeremiah,  on  account  of  the  injustice  of  the 
civil  magistrates,  declared  that  those  judges  were 
evening  wolves ;  and  that  the  priests  did  violence 
to  the  law. 

Jeremiah  acquaints  us,  that  the  priests  cried 
peace,  peace,  when  there  was  no  peace ;  by  which 
means  the  people  grew  bold  in  their  wickedness ; 
and  having  committed  abominations,  were  not 
ashamed  ;  but,  through  wrong  constructions  of  the 
law,  they  justified  themselves,  and  boastingly  said, 
fc  We  are  wise ;  and  the  law  of  the  Lord  is  with 
us/'  These  corruptions  continued  till  the  days  of 
our  Saviour,  who  told  the  Pharisees,  Cf  Thus  have 


283 

ye  made  the  commandment  of  God  of  none  effect 
by  your  tradition." 

Thus  it  appears  that  they  corrupted  the  law  of 
Moses;  nor  is  it  unlikely  that  among  many  others 
this  was  one ;  for  oppressing  the  strangers  was  a 
heavy  charge  against  the  Jews,  and  very  often 
strongly  represented  by  the  Lord's  faithful  pro 
phets. 

That  the  liberty  of  man  was,  by  the  inspired  law 
giver,  esteemed  precious,  appears  in  this ;  that  such 
as  unjustly  deprived  men  of  it,  were  to  be  punished 
in  like  manner  as  if  they  had  murdered  them.  "  He 
that  stealeth  a  man  and  selleth  him  ;  or  if  he  be 
found  in  his  hand,  he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death/' 
This  part  of  the  law  was  so  considerable,  that  Paul, 
the  learned  Jew,  giving  a  brief  account  of  the  uses 
of  the  law,  adds  this,  "  It  was  made  for  men- 
stealers."  1  Tim.  i.  10. 

The  great  men  amongst  that  people  were  exceed 
ingly  oppressive :  and  it  is  likely,  exerted  their 
whole  strength  and  influence  to  have  the  law  con 
strued  to  suit  their  turns.  The  honest  servants  of 
the  Lord  had  heavy  work  with  them  in  regard  to 
their  oppression  ;  a  few  instances  follow.  "  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  amend 
your  ways,  and  your  doings ;  and  I  will  cause  you 
to  dwell  in  this  place.  If  ye  thoroughly  execute 
judgment  between  a  man  and  his  neighbour  ;  if  ye 
oppress  not  the  stranger,  the  fatherless  and  the 
widow;  and  shed  not  innocent  blood  in  this  place; 
neither  walk  after  other  gods  to  your  hurt,  then 
will  I  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this  place,"  Jer.  vii,  6,  7. 


284 

Again  a  messenger  was  sent,  not  only  to  the  infe 
rior  ministers  of  justice,  but  also  to  the  chief  ruler. 
"  Thus  saith  the  Lord ;  go  down  to  the  house  of 
the  king  of  Judah,  and  speak  there  this  word  ;  exe 
cute  ye  judgment  and  righteousness,  and  deliver 
the  spoiled  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor ;  and 
do  no  wrong;  do  no  violence  to  the  stranger,,  the 
fatherless,  and  the  widow;  neither,  shed  innocent 
blood  in  this  place/'  Then  adds,  that  in  so  doing 
they  should  prosper ;  ' '  But  if  ye  will  not  hear  tliese 
words,  I  swear  by  myself,  saith  the  Lord,  that  this 
house  shall  become  a  desolation."  Jer.  xxii.  5. 

The  king,  the  princes,  and  rulers,  were  agreed  in 
oppression,  before  the  Babylonish  captivity  ;  for 
whatever  courts  of  justice  were  retained  amongst 
them  ;  or  however  they  decided  matters  betwixt 
men  of  estates,  it  is  plain  that  the  cause  of  the  poor 
was  not  judged  in  equity. 

It  appears  that  the  great  men  amongst  the  Jews 
were  fully  resolved  to  have  slaves,  even  of  their  own 
brethren.  Jer.  xxxiv.  Notwithstanding  the  pro 
mises  and  threaten  ings  of  the  Lord,  by  the  prophet, 
and  their  solemn  covenant. to  set  them  free,  con 
firmed  by  the  imprecation  of  passing  between  the 
parts  of  a  calf  cut  in  twain ;  intimating  by  that 
ceremony,  that  on  breach  of  the  covenant,  it  were 
just  for  their  bodies  to  be  so  cut  in  pieces.  Yet 
after  all,  they  held  fast  to  their  old  custom,  and 
called  home  the  servants  whom  they  had  set  free — 
"  And  ye  were  now  turned,  and  had  done  right  in 
my  sight,  in  proclaiming  liberty  every  man  to  his 
neighbour;  and  ye  had  made  a  covenant  before  me, 


285 

in  the  house  which  is  called  by  my  name,,  but  ye 
turned,  and  polluted  my  name,,  and  caused  every 
man  his  servant,  whom  he  had  set  at  liberty  at  their 
pleasure,  to  return,  and  brought  them  into  subjec 
tion,  to  be  unto  you  for  servants,  and  for  handmaids. 
Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  ye  have  not  heark 
ened  unto  me,  in  proclaiming  liberty  every  one  to 
his  neighbour,  and  every  one  to  his  brother.  Be 
hold  I  proclaim  liberty  to  you,  saith  the  Lord,  to 
the  sword,  to  the  pestilence,  and  to  the  famine;  and 
I  will  make  you  to  l\e  removed  into  all  the  king 
doms  of  the  earth. — The  men  who  transgressed  my 
covenant  which  they  made,  and  passed  between  the 
parts  of  the  calf,  I  will  give  into  the  hands  of  their 
enemies,  and  their  dead  bodies  shall  be  for  meat 
to  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the  beasts  of  the 
earth/' 

Soon  after  this  their  city  was  taken  and  burnt, 
the  king's  sons  and  the  princes  slain ;  and  the  king, 
with  the  chief  men  of  his  kingdom,  carried  captive 
to  Babylon.  Ezekiel,  prophesying  the  return  of 
that  people  to  their  own  land,  directs,  ec  Ye  shall 
divide  the  land  by  lot,  for  an  inheritance  unto  you, 
and  to  the  strangers  that  sojourn  amongst  you ;  in 
what  tribe  the  stranger  sojourns,  there  shall  ye  give 
him  his  inheritance,  saith  the  Lord  God."  Nor  is 
this  particular  direction,  and  the  authority  with 
which  it  is  enforced,  without  a  tacit  implication, 
that  their  ancestors  had  erred  in  their  conduct  to 
wards  the  stranger/' 

Some  who  keep  slaves,  have  doubted  as  to  the 
equity  of  the  practice ;  but  as  they  knew  men,  noted 


286 

for  their  piety,  who  were  in  it,  this  they  say.,  has  made 
their  minds  easy. 

To  lean  on  the  example  of  men  in  doubtful  cases,, 
is  difficult.  For  only  admit,,  that  those  men  were 
not  faithful  and  upright  to  the  highest  degree,  but 
that  in  some  particular  case  they  erred,  and  it  may 
follow  that  this  one  case  was  the  same,  about  which 
we  are  in  doubt;  and  to  quiet  our  minds  by  their 
example,  may  be  dangerous  to  ourselves ;  and  con 
tinuing  in  it,  prove  a  stumbling  block  to  tender- 
minded  people  who  succeed  us,  in  like  manner  as 
their  examples  are  to  us. 

But  supposing  chanty  was  their  only  motive,  and 
they  not  foreseeing  the  tendency  of  paying  robbers 
for  their  booty  were  not  justly  under  the  imputation 
of  being  partners  with  a  thief,  Prov.  xxix.  24.  but 
were  really  innocent  in  what  they  did,  are  we  as 
sured  that  we  keep  them  with  the  same  views  they 
kept  them  ?  If  we  keep  them  from  no  other  motive 
than  a  real  sense  of  duty,  and  true  charity  governs 
us  in  all  our  proceedings  toward  them,  we  are  so  far 
safe  :  but  if  another  spirit,  which  inclines  our  minds 
to  the  ways  of  this  world,  prevail  upon  us,  and  we 
are  concerned  for  our  own  outward  gain  more  than 
for  their  real  happiness,  it  will  avail  us  nothing  that 
some  good  men  have  had  the  care  and  management 
of  negroes. 

Since  mankind  spread  upon  the  earth,  many  have 
been  the  revolutions  attending  the  several  families, 
and  their  customs  and  ways  of  life  different  from 
each  other.  This  diversity  of  manners,  though 
some  are  preferable  to  others,  operates  not  in  favour 


287 

of  any,  so  far  as  to  justify  them  to  do  violence  to 
innocent  men  ;  to  bring  them  from  their  own  to  an 
other  way  of  life.  The  mind,  when  moved  by  a 
principle  of  true  love,  may  feel  a  \varmth  of  grati 
tude  to  the  universal  Father,  and  a  lively  sympathy 
with  those  nations,  where  divine  Light  has  been 
less  manifest. 

This  desire  for  their  real  good  may  beget  a  wil 
lingness  to  undergo  hardships  for  their  sakes,  that 
the  true  knowledge  of  God  may  be  spread  amongst 
them  :  but  to  take  them  from  their  own  land,  with 
views  of  profit  to  ourselves,  by  means  inconsistent 
with  pure  justice,  is  foreign  to  that  principle  which 
seeks  the  happiness  of  the  whole  creation.  Forced 
subjection  of  innocent  persons  of  full  age,  is  incon 
sistent  with  right  reason  ;  on  one  side,  the  human 
mind  is  not  naturally  fortified  with  that  firmness  in 
wisdom  and  goodness,  necessary  to  an  independent 
ruler  ;  on  the  other  side,  to  be  subject  to  the  uncon- 
troulable  will  of  a  man,  liable  to  err,  is  most  pain 
ful  and  afflicting  to  a  conscientious  creature. 

It  is  our  happiness  faithfully  to  serve  the  divine 
Being,  who  made  us,  His  perfection  makes  our 
service  reasonable ;  but  so  long  as  men  are  biassed 
by  narrow  self-love,  so  long  an  absolute  power  over 
other  men  is  unfit  for  them. 

Men,  taking  on  them  the  government  of  others, 
may  intend  to  govern  reasonably,  and  make  their 
subjects  more  happy  than  they  would  be  otherwise; 
but,  as  absolute  command  belongs  only  to  Him  who 
is  perfect,  where  frail  men,  in  their  own  wills,  assume 
such  command,  it  hath  a  direct  tendency  to  vitiate 


288 

their  minds,  and  make  them  more  unfit  for  govern 
ment. 

Placing  on  men  the  ignominious  title  SLAVE., 
dressing  them  in  uncomely  garments,  keeping  them 
to  servile  labour,  in  which  they  are  often  dirty, 
tends  gradually  to  fix  a  notion  in  the  mind,  that 
they  are  a  sort  of  people  below  us  in  nature,  and 
leads  us  to  consider  them  as  such  in  all  our  conclu 
sions  about  them.  And,  moreover,  a  person  who 
in  our  esteem  is  mean  and  contemptible,  if  his  lan 
guage  or  behaviour  towards  us  is  unseemly  or  dis 
respectful,  it  excites  wrath  more  powerfully  than 
the  like  conduct  in  one  we  accounted  our  equal  or 
superior  ;  and  where  this  happens  to  be  the  case,  it 
disqualifies  for  candid  judgment ;  for  it  is  unfit  for 
a  person  to  sit  as  judge  in  a  case  where  his  own 
personal  resentments  are  stirred  up  ;  and  as  mem 
bers  of  society  in  a  well-framed  government,  we  are 
mutually  dependent.  Present  interest  incites  to 
duty,  and  makes  each  man  attentive  to  the  conve 
nience  of  others  ;  but  he  whose  will  is  a  law  to 
others,  and  can  enforce  obedience  by  punishment  ; 
he  whose  wants  are  supplied  without  feeling  any 
obligation  to  make  equal  returns  to  his  benefactor, 
his  irregular  appetites  find  an  open  field  for  mo 
tion,  arid  he  is  in  danger  of  growing  hard,  and  in 
attentive  to  their  convenience  who  labour  for  his 
support ;  and  so  loses  that  disposition,  in  which 
alone  men  are  fit  to  govern. 

The  English  government  hath  been  commended 
by  candid  foreigners  for  the  disuse  of  racks  and 
tortures,  so  much  practised  in  some  states;  but  this 


289 

multiplying  slaves  now  leads  to  it ;  for  where  peo 
ple  exact  hard  labour  of  others,  without  a  suitable 
reward,  and  are  resolved  to  continue  in  that 
way,  severity  to  such  as  oppose  them  becomes 
the  consequence ;  and  several  negro  criminals, 
among-  the  English  in  America,  have  been  exe 
cuted  in  a  lingering,  painful  way,  very  terrifying  to 
others. 

It  is  a  happy  case  to  set  out  right,  and  persevere 
in  the  same  way.  A  wrong  beginning  leads  into 
many  difficulties ;  for  to  support  one  evil,  another 
becomes  customary  ;  two  produce  more  :  and  the 
further  men  proceed  in  this  way,  the  greater  their 
dangers,  their  doubts  and  fears,  and  the  more  pain 
ful  and  perplexing  are  their  circumstances ;  so  that 
such  as  are  true  friends  to  the  real  and  lasting 
interest  of  our  country,  and  candidly  consider  the 
tendency  of  things,  cannot  but  feel  some  concern  on 
this  account. 

There  is  that  superiority  in  men  over  the  brute 
creatures,  and  some  of  them  are  so  manifestly  de 
pendent  on  men  for  a  living,  that  for  them  to  serve 
us  in  moderation,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  right  use 
of  things,  looks  consonant  to  the  design  of  our 
Creator. 

There  is  nothing  in  their  frame,  nothing  relative 
to  the  propagating  their  species,  which  argues  the 
contrary ;  but  in  men  there  is.  The  frame  of  men's 
bodies  and  the  disposition  of  their  minds  are  differ 
ent  ;  some,  who  are  tough  and  strong,  and  their 
minds  active,  choose  ways  of  life  requiring  much 
labour  to  support  them ;  others  are  soon  weary ; 


290 

and  though  use  makes  labour  more  tolerable,  yet 
some  are  less  apt  for  toil  than  others,  and  their 
minds  less  sprightly.  These  latter  labouring  for 
their  subsistence,,  commonly  choose  a  life  easy  to 
support,  being  content  with  a  little.  When  they 
are  weary  they  may  rest,  take  the  most  advantage 
ous  part  of  the  day  for  labour ;  and  in  all  cases 
proportion  one  thing  to  another,  that  their  bodies 
be  not  oppressed. 

Now,  while  each  is  at  liberty,  the  latter  may  be 
as  happy,  and  live  as  comfortably  as  the  former ; 
but  where  men  of  the  first  sort  have  the  latter  un 
der  absolute  command,  and  not  considering  the 
odds  in  strength  and  firmness,  do,  sometimes,  in 
their  eager  pursuit,  lay  on  burdens  grievous  to  be 
borne  ;  they  by  degrees  grow  rigorous,  and  aspiring 
to  greatness,  increase  oppression,  and  the  true  order 
of  kind  Providence  is  subverted. 

There  are  weaknesses  sometimes  attending  us, 
which  make  little  or  no  alteration  in  our  counte 
nances,  nor  much  lessen  our  appetite  for  food,  and 
yet  so  affect  us,  as  to  make  labour  very  uneasy. 
In  such  cases,  masters,  intent  on  putting  forward 
business,  and  jealous  of  the  sincerity  of  their  slaves, 
may  disbelieve  what  they  say,  and  grievously  afflict 
them. 

Action  is  necessary  for  all  men,  and  our  exhaust 
ing  frame  requires  a  support,  which  is  the  fruit  of 
action.  The  earth  must  be  laboured  to  keep  us 
alive  :  labour  is  a  proper  part  of  our  life  ;  to  make 
one  answer  the  other  in  some  useful  motion,  looks 
agreeable  to  the  design  of  our  Creator.  Motion, 


29 1 

rightly  managed,  tends  to  our  satisfaction,  health,, 
and  support. 

Those  who  quit  all  useful  business,  and  live 
wholly  on  the  labour  of  others,  have  their  exercise 
to  seek  ;  some  such  use  less  than  their  health  re 
quires  ;  others  choose  that  which,  by  the  circum 
stances  attending  it,  proves  utterly  reverse  to  true 
happiness.  Thus,  while  some  are  divers  ways  dis 
tressed  for  want  of  an  open  channel  of  useful  action, 
those  who  support  them  sigh,  arid  are  exhausted  in 
a  stream  too  powerful  for  nature,  spending  their 
days  with  too  little  cessation  from  labour. 

Seed  sown  with  the  tears  of  a  confined,  oppressed, 
people,  harvest  cut  down  by  an  over-borne,  discon 
tented,  reaper,  makes  bread  less  sweet  to  the  taste 
of  an  honest  man,  than  that  which  is  the  produce, 
or  just  reward  of  such  voluntary  action,  which  is 
one  proper  part  of  the  business  of  human  creatures. 

Again,  the  weak  state  of  the  human  species,  in 
bearing  and  bringing  forth  their  young,  and  the 
helpless  condition  of  their  young  beyond  that  of 
other  creatures,  clearly  show  that  Perfect  Goodness 
designs  a  tender  care  and  regard  should  be  exer 
cised  toward  them ;  and  that  no  imperfect,  arbitrary, 
power  should  prevent  the  cordial  effects  of  that 
sympathy,  which  is  in  the  minds  of  well-met  pairs 
to  each  other,  and  toward  their  offspring. 

In  our  species  the  mutual  ties  of  affection  are 
more  rational  and  durable  than  in  others  below  us : 
the  care  and  labour  of  raising  our  offspring  much 
greater.  The  satisfaction  arising  to  us  in  their 

T3 


innocent  company,  and  in  their  advances  from  one 
rational  improvement  to  another,  is  considerable, 
when  two  are  thus  joined,  and  their  affections  sin 
cere.  It  however  happens  among  slaves,  that  they 
are  often  situate  in  different  places ;  and  their  see 
ing  each  other  depends  on  the  will  of  men,  liable 
to  human  passions,,  and  a  bias  in  judgment;  who 
with  views  of  self-interest,  may  keep  them  apart 
more  than  is  right.  Being  absent  from  each  other, 
and  often  with  other  company  there  is  a  danger  of 
their  affections  being  alienated,  jealousies  arising, 
the  happiness  otherwise  resulting  from  their  off 
spring  frustrated,  and  the  comforts  of  marriage  de 
stroyed  These  things  being  considered  closely, 
as  happening  to  a  near  friend,  will  appear  to  be 
Jiard  and  painful. 

He  who  reverently  observes  that  goodness  mani 
fested  by  our  gracious  Creator  toward  the  various 
species  of  beings  in  this  world,  will  see,  that  in  our 
frame  and  constitution  is  clearly  shown  that  inno 
cent  men,  capable  to  manage  for  themselves,  were 
not  intended  to  be  slaves, 

A  person  lately  travelling  amongst  the  negroes 
near  Senegal,  hath  this  remark ;  "  Which  way  so 
ever  I  turned  my  eyes  on  this  pleasant  spot,  I  be 
held  a  perfect  image  of  pure  nature ;  an  agreeable 
solitude,  bounded  on  every  side  by  charming  land 
scapes,  the  rural  situation  of  cottages  in  the  midst 
of  trees.  The  ease  and  indolence  of  the  negroes 
reclined  under  the  shade  of  their  spreading  foliage  ; 
the  simplicity  of  their  dress  and  manners ;  the  whole 


293 

revived  in  iny  mind  the  idea  of  our  first  parents,  and 
I  seemed  to  contemplate  the  world  in  its  primitive 
state."  M.  Adarison,  page  55. 

Some  negroes  in  these  parts,  who  have  had  an 
agreeable  education,,  have  manifested  a  brightness 
of  understanding  equal  to  many  of  us.  A  remark 
of  this  kind  we  find  in  Bosnian,  page  328.  Cf  The 
negroes  of  Fida,  saith  he,  are  so  accurately  quick 
in  their  merchandize  accounts,  that  they  easily 
reckon  as  justly  and  quickly  in  their  heads  only, 
as  we  with  the  assistance  of  pen  and  ink,  though 
the  sum  amounts  to  several  thousands." 

Through  the  force  of  long  custom,  it  appears 
needful  to  speak  in  relation  to  colour.  Suppose  a 
white  child,  born  of  parents  of  the  meanest  sort, 
who  died  and  left  him  an  infant,  falls  into  the  hands 
of  a  person,  who  endeavours  to  keep  him  a  slave, 
some  men  would  account  him  an  unjust  man  in 
doing  so,  who  yet  appear  easy  while  many  black 
people,  of  honest  lives,  and  good  abilities,  arc  en 
slaved,  in  a  manner  more  shocking  than  the  case 
here  supposed.  This  is  owing  chiefly  to  the  idea  of 
slavery  being  connected  with  the  black  colour,  and 
liberty  with  the  white ;  and  where  false  ideas  are 
twisted  into  our  minds,  it  is  with  difficulty  we  get 
fairly  disentangled. 

A  traveller,  in  cloudy  weather,  misseth  his  way, 
makes  many  turns  while  he  is  lost;  still  forms  in 
his  mind,  the  bearing  and  situation  of  places,  and 
though  the  ideas  are  wrong,  they  fix  as  fast  as  if 
they  were  right.  Finding  how  things  are,  we  see 


our  mistake  ;  yet  the  force  of  reason,  with  repeated 
observations  on  places  and  things,  does  riot  soon 
remove  these  false  notions,  so  fastened  upon  us, 
but  it  will  seem  in  the  imagination  as  if  the  annual 
course  of  the  sun  was  altered  ;  and  though  by  re 
collection,,  we  are  assured  it  is  riot,,  yet  those  ideas 
do  not  suddenly  leave  us. 

Selfishness  being  indulged,,  clouds  the  under 
standing;  and  where  selfish  men,  for  a  long  time, 
proceed  on  their  way,  without  opposition,  the  de- 
ceivableness  of  unrighteousness  gets  so  rooted  in 
their  intellects,  that  a  candid  examination  of  things 
relating  to  self-interest  is  prevented;  and  in  this  cir 
cumstance,,  some  who  would  not  agree  to  make  a 
slave  of  a  person  whose  colour  is  like  their  own, 
appear  easy  in  making  slaves  of  others  of  a  differ- 
rent  colour,  though  their  understandings  and  morals 
are  equal  to  the  generality  of  men  of  their  own 
colour. 

The  colour  of  a  man  avails  nothing,  in  matters 
of  right  and  equity.  Consider  colour  in  relation 
to  treaties;  by  such,  disputes  betwixt  nations  are 
sometimes  settled.  And  should  the  Father  of  us 
all  so  dispose  things,  that  treaties  with  black  men 
should  sometimes  be  necessary,  how  then  would  it 
appear  amongst  the  princes  and  ambassadors,  to 
insist  on  the  prerogative  of  the  white  colour  ? 

Whence  is  it  that  men,  who  believe  in  a  righte 
ous  omnipotent  Being,  to  whom  all  nations  stand 
equally  related,  and  are  equally  accountable,  remain 
so  easy  in  it ;  but  for  that  the  ideas  of  negroes  and 


295 

slaves  are  so  interwoven  in  the  mind,  that  they  do 
not  discuss  this  matter  with  that  candour  and  free 
dom  of  thought,  which  the  case  justly  calls  for? 

To  come  at  a  right  feeling  of  their  condition, 
requires  humble  serious  thinking ;  for,  in  their 
present  situation,  they  have  but  little  to  engage 
our  natural  affection  in  their  favour. 

Had  we  a  son  or  a  daughter  involved  in  the  same 
case,  in  which  many  of  them  are,  it  would  alarm  us, 
and  make  us  feel  their  condition  without  seeking  for 
it.  The  adversity  of  an  intimate  friend  will  incite 
our  compassion,  while  others,  equally  good,  in  the 
like  trouble,  will  but  little  affect  us. 

Again,  the  man  in  worldly  honour,  whom  we 
consider  as  our  superior,  treating  us  with  kindness 
and  generosity,  begets  a  return  of  gratitude  and 
friendship  toward  him.  We  may  receive  as  great 
benefits  from  men  a  degree  lower  than  ourselves, 
in  the  common  way  of  reckoning,  and  feel  our 
selves  less  engaged  in  favour  of  them.  Such  is  our 
condition  by  nature  ;  and  these  things  being  nar 
rowly  watched  and  examined,  will  be  found  to 
centre  in  self-love. 

The  blacks  secrn  far  from  being  our  kinsfolks, 
and  did  we  find  an  agreeable  disposition  and  sound 
understanding  in  some  of  them,  which  appeared  as 
a  good  foundation  for  a  true  friendship  between  us, 
the  disgrace  arising  from  an  open  friendship  with  a 
person  of  so  vile  a  stock,  in  the  common  esteem, 
would  naturally  tend  to  hinder  it.  They  have 
neither  honours,  riches,  outward  magnificence,  nor 
power;  their  dress,  coarse, and  often  ragged;  their 


296 

employ,  drudgery,  and  much  in  the  dirt;  they  have 
little  or  nothing  at  command  ;  but  must  wait  upon 
and  work  for  others,  to  obtain  the  necessaries  of 
life  ;  so  that  in  their  present  situation,  there  is  not 
much  to  engage  the  friendship  or  move  the  affection 
of  selfish  men,  but  for  such  as  live  in  the  spirit  of 
true  charity,  to  sympathize  with  the  afflicted  in  the 
lowest  stations  of  life,  is  a  thing  familiar  to  them. 

Such  is  the  kindness  of  our  Creator,  that  people, 
applying  their  minds  to  sound  wisdom,  may,  in 
general,  with  moderate  exercise,  live  comfortably, 
where  no  misapplied  power  hinders  it.  We  in 
these  parts  have  cause  gratefully  to  acknowledge 
it.  But  men  leaving  the  true  use  of  things,  their 
lives  are  less  calm,  and  have  less  of  real  happiness 
in  them. 

Many  are  desirous  of  purchasing  and  keeping 
slaves,  that  they  may  live  in  some  measure  con 
formable  to  those  customs  of  the  times,  which  have 
in  them  a  tincture  of  luxury ;  for  when  we,  in  the 
least  degree,  depart  from  that  use  of  the  creatures, 
for  which  the  Creator  of  all  things  intended  them, 
there  luxury  begins. 

And  if  we  consider  this  way  of  life  seriously,  we 
shall  see  there  is  nothing  in  it  sufficient  to  induce 
a  wise  man  to  choose  it,  before  a  plain,  simple,  way 
of  living.  If  we  examine  stately  buildings  and 
equipage,  delicious  food,  superfine  clothes,  silks, 
and  linens ;  if  we  consider  the  splendor  of  choice 
metal  fastened  upon  raiment,  and  the  most  showy 
inventions  of  men ;  it  will  yet  appear  that  the  hum 
ble-minded  man,  who  is  contented  with  the  true  use 


21)7 

of  houses,,  food,  and  garments,  and  chear fully  exer- 
ciseth  himself  agreeable  to  his  station  in  civil  so 
ciety,,  to  earn  them,  acts  more  reasonably,  and  dis 
covers  more  soundness  of  understanding  in  his  con 
duct,  than  such  as  lay  heavy  burdens  on  others, 
to  support  themselves  in  a  luxurious  way  of  living. 

George  Buchanan,  in  his  History  of  Scotland,  page 
62,  tells  of  some  ancient  inhabitants  of  Britain,  who 
were  derived  from  a  people  that  <(  had  a  way  of 
marking  their  bodies,  as  some  said,  with  instruments 
of  iron,  with  variety  of  pictures,  and  with  animals 
of  all  shapes,  and  wore  no  garments,  that  they 
should  not  hide  their  pictures ;  and  were  therefore 
called  Picts." 

Did  we  see  those  people  shrink  with  pain,  for  a 
considerable  time  together,  under  the  point  or  edge 
of  this  iron  instrument,  and  their  bodies  all  bloody 
with  the  operation  ;  did  we  see  them  sometimes 
naked,  suffering  with  cold,  and  refuse  to  put  on 
garments,  that  those  imaginary  ensigns  of  gran 
deur  might  not  be  concealed,  it  is  likely  we  should 
pity  their  folly,  and  fondness  for  those  things  ;  but 
if  we  candidly  compare  their  conduct,  in  that  case, 
with  some  conduct  amongst  ourselves,  will  it  not 

o  * 

appear  that  our  folly  is  the  greatest  ? 

In  true  gospel  simplicity,  free  from  all  wrong  use 
of  things,  a  spirit  which  breathes  peace  and  good 
will  is  cherished  ;  but  when  we  aspire  after  imagi 
nary  grandeur,  and  apply  to  selfish  means  to  attain 
our  end,  this  desire,  in  its  original,  is  the  same  with 
the  Picts,  in  cutting  figures  on  their  bodies ;  but 


298 

the  evil  consequences   attending1  our  proceedings 
are  the  greatest. 

A  covetous  mind,  which  seeks  opportunity  to  ex 
alt  itself,  is  a  great  enemy  to  true  harmony  in  a 
country  :  envy  and  grudging  usually  accompany 
this  disposition,  and  it  tends  to  stir  up  its  likeness 
in  others.  And  where  this  disposition  ariseth  so 
high,  as  to  embolden  us  to  look  upon  honest,  in 
dustrious  men  as  our  own  property  during  life,  and 
to  keep  them  to  hard  labour,  to  support  us  in  those 
customs  which  have  not  their  foundation  in  right 
reason ;  or  to  use  any  means  of  oppression  ;  a 
haughty  spirit  is  cherished  on  one  side,  and  the  de 
sire  of  revenge  frequently  on  the  other,  until  the 
inhabitants  of  the  land  are  ripe  for  great  commotion 
and  trouble ;  and  thus  luxury  and  oppression  have 
the  seeds  of  war  and  desolation  in  them. 


Some  account  of  the  Slave  Trade  ;  from  the  Writ 
ings  of  persons  who  have  been  at  the  places  where 
they  are  first  purchased,  viz. 

BOSMAN  on  Guinea,  who  was  a  factor  for  the 
Dutch  about  sixteen  years  in  that  country,  (page 
339)  thus  remarks :  "  But  since  I  have  so  often 
mentioned  that  commerce,  I  shall  describe  how  it 
is  managed  by  our  factors.  The  first  business  of  one 
of  our  factors,  when  he  comes  to  Pida,  is  to  satisfy 
the  customs  of  the  king,  and  the  great  men,  which 
amount  to  about  one  hundred  pounds,  in  Guinea 


299 

value,  as  the  goods  must  sell  there.  After  which 
we  have  free  licence  to  trade,  which  is  published 
throughout  the  whole  land  by  the  cryer.  Arid  yet 
before  we  can  deal  with  any  person,  we  are  obliged 
to  buy  the  king's  whole  stock  of  slaves,  at  a  set 
price ;  which  is  commonly  one-third  or  fourth  higher 
than  ordinary.  After  which,  we  have  free  leave  to 
deal  with  all  his  subjects,  of  what  rank  soever.  But 
if  there  happen  to  be  no  stock  of  slaves,  the  factor 
must  resolve  to  run  the  risk  of  trusting  the  inhabi 
tants  with  goods,  to  the  value  of  one  or  two  hun 
dred  slaves;  which  commodities  they  send  into  the 
inland  country,  in  order  to  buy  with  them  slaves  at 
all  markets,  and  that  sometimes  two  hundred  miles 
deep  in  the  country.  For  you  ought  to  be  informed, 
that  markets  of  men  are  here  kept  in  the  same  man 
ner  as  those  of  beasts  are  with  us. 

Cf  Most  of  the  slaves  which  are  offered  to  us,  are 
prisoners  of  war,  which  are  sold  by  the  victors  as 
their  booty.  When  these  slaves  corne  to  Fida, 
they  are  put  in  prisons  altogether ;  and  when  we 
treat  concerning  them,  they  are  all  brought  out  in 
a  large  plain,  where,  by  our  surgeons,  whose  pro 
vince  it  is,  they  are  thoroughly  examined,  even  to 
the  smallest  member,  and  that  naked,  both  men 
and  women,  without  the  least  distinction  or  mo 
desty.  Those  which  are  approved  as  good,  are  set 
on  one  side.  The  invalids  and  maimed  being 
thrown  out,  the  remainder  are  numbered,  and  it  is 
entered  who  delivered  them  :  in  the  mean  while  a 
burning  iron,  with  the  arms  or  name  of  the  com 
pany,  lies  in  the  fire,  with  which  ours  are  marked  on 


300 

the  breast.  This  is  done  that  we  may  distinguish 
them  from  the  slaves  of  the  English,  French,  or 
others.  When  we  have  agreed  with  the  owners  of 
the  slaves,  they  are  returned  to  their  prisons,  where 
from  that  time  forward,  they  are  kept  at  our  charge, 
cost  us  twopence  a  day  a  slave,  which  serves  to 
subsist  them,  like  our  criminals,  on  bread  and 
water :  so  that  to  save  charges,  we  send  them  on 
board  our  ships  the  first  opportunity  ;  before  which 
their  masters  strip  them  of  all  they  have  on  their 
backs,  so  that  they  come  on  board  stark  naked,  as 
well  women  as  men  ;  in  which  condition  they  are 
obliged  to  continue,  if  the  master  of  the  ship  is  not 
so  charitable  (which  he  commonly  is)  as  to  bestow 
something  on  them,  to  cover  their  nakedness.'' 

Same  author,  page  310.  ff  The  inhabitants  of 
Popo,  as  well  as  those  of  Goto,  depend  on  plunder, 
and  the  slave-trade,  in  both  which  they  very  much 
exceed  the  latter;  for  being  endowed  with  more 
courage,  they  rob  more  successfully,  and  by  that 
means  increase  their  trade:  notwithstanding  which, 
to  freight  a  vessel  with  slaves,  requires  some 
months  attendance.  In  the  year  1697,  in  three 
days  time  I  could  get  but  three  slaves  ;  but  they 
assured  me,  that  if  I  would  have  patience  for  ano 
ther  three  days  only,  they  should  be  able  to  deliver 
one  or  two  hundred/' 

Bosnian,  page  440.  "  We  cast  anchor  at  Cape 
Mizurada,  but  not  one  negro  coming  on  board,  I 
went  on  shore;  and  being  desirous  to  be  informed 
why  they  did  not  come  on  board,  was  answered, 
that  about  two  months  before,  the  English  had  been 


301 

there  with  two  vessels,  and  had  ravaged  the  coun 
try,  destroyed  all  their  canoes,  plundered  their 
houses,  and  carried  off  some  of  their  people  for 
slaves;  upon  which  the  remainder  fled  to  the 
inland  country.  They  tell  us,  they  live  in  peace 
with  all  their  neighbours,  and  have  no  notion  of  any 
other  enemy  than  the  English;  of  which  nation  they 
had  taken  some  then :  and  publicly  declared,  that 
they  would  endeavour  to  get  as  many  of  them,  as 
the  two  mentioned  ships  had  carried  off  of  their 
natives.  These  unhappy  English  were  in  danger 
of  being  sacrificed  to  the  memory  of  their  friends, 
which  some  of  their  nation  carried  off." 


Extracts  from  a  Collection  of  Voyages,  VoL  I. 

The  author,  a  popish  missionary,  speaking  of  his 
departing  from  the  negro  country  to  Brazil,  saith, 
fc  I  remember  the  duke  of  Bambay  (a  negro  chief) 
one  day  sent  me  several  blacks,  to  be  rny  slaves, 
which  I  would  not  accept  of;  but  sent  them  back 
to  him.  I  afterwards  told  him,  I  came  not  into  his 
country  to  make  slaves ;  but  rather  to  deliver  those 
from  the  slavery  of  the  devil,  whom  he  kept  in 
miserable  thraldom.  The  ship  I  went  aboard  was 
loaded  with  elephants'  teeth,  and  slaves,  to  the 
number  of  six  hundred  and  eighty,  men,  women, 
and  children.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight  to  behold  how 
all  these  people  were  bestowed.  The  men  were 
standing  in  the  hold,  fastened  one  to  another  with 


302 

stakes,  for  fear  they  should  rise  and  kill  the  whites : 
the  women  were  between  the  decks,  and  those  that 
were  with  child  in  the  great  cabin :  the  children  in 
the  steerage,  pressed  together  like  herrings  in  a 
barrel ;  which  caused  an  intolerable  heat  and 
stench."  Page  507. 

ff  It  is  now  time  (saith  the  same  author)  to  speak 
of  a  brutish  custom  these  people  have  amongst  them 
in  making  slaves  ;  which  I  take  not  to  be  lawful  for 
any  person  of  a  good  conscience  to  buy." 

He  then  describes  how  women  betray  men  into 
slavery,  and  adds,  fc  There  are  others  going  up  into 
the  inland  country,  and,  through  pretence  of  juris 
diction,  seize  men  upon  any  trifling  offence,  and  sell 
them  for  slaves."  Page  537. 

The  author  of  this  treatise,  conversing  with  a 
person  of  good  credit,  was  informed  by  him  that  in 
his  youth  while  in  England,  he  was  minded  to  come 
to  America,  and  happening  on  a  vessel  bound  for 
Guinea,  and  from  thence  into  America,  he,  with  a 
view  to  see  Africa,  went  on  board  her,  and  continued 
with  them  in  their  voyage,  and  so  came  into  this 
country.  Among  other  circumstances  he  related 
these:  "  They  purchased  on  the  coast  about  three 
hundred  slaves  :  some  of  them  he  understood  were 
captives  of  war;  some  stolen  by  other  negroes 
privately.  When  they  had  got  many  slaves  on 
board,  but  were  still  on  that  coast,  a  plot  was  laid 
by  an  old  negro,  notwithstanding  the  men  had  irons 
on  their  hands  and  feet,  to  kill  the  English  and 
take  the  vessel ;  which  being  discovered,  the  man 


302 

was  hanged,,  and  many  of  the  slaves  made  to  shoot 
at  him  as  he  hung1  up/' 

Cf  Another  slave  was  charged  with  having  a  de 
sign  to  kill  the  English;  and  the  captain  spoke  to 
him  in  relation  to  the  charge  brought  against  him, 
as  he  stood  on  deck  ;  whereupon  he  immediately 
threw  himself  into  the  sea,  and  was  drowned/' 

{C  Several  negroes.,  confined  on  board,,  were,  he 
said,  so  extremely  uneasy  with  their  condition,  that 
after  many  endeavours  used,  they  could  never  make 
them  eat  nor  drink,  after  they  came  into  the  vessel; 
but  in  a  desperate  resolution  starved  themselves  to 
death,  behaving  toward  the  last  like  madmen/' 

In  Randal's  Geography,  printed  1744,  we  are  in 
formed,  "  That  in  a  time  of  full  peace  nothing  is 
more  common  than  for  the  negroes  of  one  nation  to 
steal  those  of  another,  and  sell  them  to  the  Euro 
peans.  It  is  thought  that  the  English  transmit 
annually  near  fifty  thousand  of  these  unhappy  crea 
tures  ;  and  the  other  European  nations  together, 
about  two  hundred  thousand  more." 

It  is  through  the  goodness  of  God  that  the  re 
formation  from  gross  idolatry  and  barbarity  hath 
been  thus  far  effected  ;  if  we  consider  our  condi 
tions  as  Christians,  and  the  benefits  we  enjoy,  and 
compare  them  with  the  condition  of  those  people, 
and  consider  that  our  nation  trading  with  them  for 
their  country  produce,  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
imparting  useful  instructions  to  them,  and  remember 
that  but  little  pains  have  been  taken  therein,  it 
must  look  like  an  indifference  in  us.  But  when  we 
reflect  on  a  custom  the  most  shocking  of  any 


304 

amongst  them,  and  remember  that,  with  a  view  to 
outward  gain,  we  have  joined  as  parties  in  it ;  that 
our  concurrence  with  them  in  their  barbarous  pro 
ceedings,  has  tended  to  harden  them  in  cruelty, 
and  been  a  means  of  increasing  calamities  in  their 
country ;  we  must  own  that  herein  we  have  acted 
contrary  to  those  worthies  whose  lives  and  sub 
stance  were  spent  in  propagating  truth  and  right 
eousness  amongst  the  heathen.  When  Saul,  by 
the  hand  of  Doeg,  slew  fourscore  priests  at  once,  he 
had  a  jealousy  that  one  of  them  at  least  was  con 
federate  with  David,  whom  he  considered  as  his 
enemy.  Herod  slaying  all  the  male  children  in 
Bethlehem  of  two  years  old  and  under,  was  an  act 
of  uncommon  cruelty ;  but  he  supposed  there  was 
a  male  child  there,  within  that  age,  who  was  likely 
to  be  king  of  the  Jews,  and  finding  no  way  to  de 
stroy  him  but  by  destroying  them  all,  thought  this 
the  most  effectual  means  to  secure  the  kingdom  to 
his  own  family. 

When  the  sentence  against  the  Protestants  of 
Marindol,  &c.  in  France,  was  put  in  execution, 
great  numbers  of  people  fled  to  the  wilderness  ; 
amongst  whom  were  ancient  people,  women  great 
with  child,  and  others  with  babes  in  their  arms> 
who  endured  calamities  grievous  to  relate,  and  iu 
the  end  some  perished  with  hunger,  and  many  were 
destroyed  by  fire  and  the  sword  ;  but  they  had  this 
objection  against  them,  that  they  obstinately  per 
sisted  in  opposition  to  holy  mother  church,  and 
being  heretics,  it  was  right  to  work  their  ruin  and 


305 

extirpation,  and  raze  out  their  memory  from  among 
men.— Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments,,  p.  646. 

In  favour  of  those  cruelties,,  every  one  had  what 
they  deemed  a  plea.  These  scenes  of  blood  and 
cruelty  among  the  barbarous  inhabitants  of  Guinea, 
are  riot  less  terrible  than  those  now  mentioned. 
They  are  continued  from  one  age  to  another,  and 
we  make  ourselves  parties  and  fellow-helpers  in 
them  ;  nor  do  1  see  that  we  have  any  plea  in  our 
favour  more  plausible  than  the  plea  of  Saul,  of 
Herod,  or  the  French,,  in  those  slaughters. 

Many  who  are  parties  in  this  trade,  by  keeping 
slaves  with  views  of  self-interest,  were  they  to  go  as 
soldiers  in  one  of  these  inland  expeditions  to  catch 
slaves,  they  must  necessarily  grow  dissatisfied  with 
such  employ,  or  cease  to  profess  their  religious 
principles.  And  though  the  first  and  most  striking 
part  of  the  scene  is  done  at  a  great  distance,  and  by 
other  hands,  yet  every  one  who  is  acquainted  with 
the  circumstances,  and  notwithstanding  joins  in  it 
for  the  sake  of  gain  only,  must,  hi  the  nature  of 
things,  be  chargeable  with  the  others. 

Should  we  consider  ourselves  present  as  spec 
tators,  when  cruel  negroes  privately  catch  innocent 
children,  who  are  employed  in  the  fields ;  hear 
their  lamentable  cries,  under  the  most  terrifying 
apprehensions  •  or  should  we  look  upon  it  as  hap 
pening  in  our  own  families,  having  our  children 
carried  off  by  savages,  we  must  needs  own,  that 
such  proceedings  are  contrary  to  the  nature  of 
Christianity : — should  we  meditate  on  the  wars 
which  are  greatly  increased  by  this  trade,  an4  on 

u 


306 

that  affliction  which  many  thousands  live  in, 
through  apprehensions  of  being  taken  or  slain ;  on 
the  terror  and  amazement  that  villages  are  in.,  when 
surrounded  by  these  troops  of  enterprizers  ;  on  the 
great  pain  and  misery  of  groaning  dying  men,,  who 
get  wounded  in  those  skirmishes ;  we  shall  neces 
sarily  see,  that  it  is  impossible  to  be  parties  in  such 
trade,  on  the  motives  of  gain,  and  retain  our  inno 
cence. 

Should  we  consider  the  case  of  multitudes  of 
those  people,  who,  in  a  fruitful  soil  and  hot  cli 
mate,  with  a  little  labour,  raise  grain,  roots,  and 
pulse,  to  eat ;  spin  and  weave  cotton,  and  fasten 
together  the  large  feathers  of  fowls,  to  cover  their 
nakedness;  many  of  whom,  in  much  simplicity, 
live  inoffensively  in  their  cottages,  and  take  great 
comfort  in  raising  up  children. 

Should  we  contemplate  on  their  circumstances 
when  suddenly  attacked,  and  labour  to  understand 
their  inexpressible  anguish  of  soul,  who  survive  the 
conflict :  should  we  think  on  inoffensive  women  who 
fled  at  the  alarm,  and  at  their  return  saw  that 
village,  in  which  they  and  their  acquaintance  were 
raised  up,  and  had  pleasantly  spent  their  youthful 
days,  now  lying  in  a  gloomy  desolation  ;  some 
shocked  at  finding  the  mangled  bodies  of  their  near 
friends  amongst  the  slain  ;  others  bemoaning  the 
absence  of  a  brother,  a  sister,  a  child,  or  a  whole 
family  of  children,  who,  by  cruel  men,  are  bound 
and  carried  to  market,  to  be  sold,  without  the  least 
hopes  of  seeing  them  again  :  add  to  this,  the  af 
flicted  condition  of  these  poor  captives,  who  are 


307 

separated  from  family  connexions,  and  all  the  com 
forts  arising  from  friendship  and  acquaintance, 
carried  amongst  a  people  of  a  strange  language,,  to 
be  parted  from  their  fellow  captives,  put  to  labour 
in  a  manner  more  servile  and  wearisome  than  what 
they  were  used  to.,  with  many  sorrowful  circum 
stances  attending  their  slavery ;  and  we  must 
necessarily  see,  that  it  belongs  not  to  the  followers 
of  Christ  to  be  parties  in  such  a  trade,  on  the  motives 
of  outward  gain. 

Though  there  were  wars  and  desolation  among 
the  negroes  before  the  Europeans  began  to  trade 
there  for  slaves,  yet  now  the  calamities  are  greatly 
increased,  so  many  thousands  being  ann  ually  brought 
from  thence ;  and  we,  by  purchasing  them,  with 
views  of  self-interest,  are  become  parties  with  them, 
and  accessary  to  that  increase. 

In  this  case  we  are  not  joining  against  an  enemy 
who  is  fomenting  discords  on  our  continent,  and 
using  all  possible  means  to  make  slaves  of  us  and 
our  children ;  but  against  a  people  who  have  not 
injured  us. 

If  those  who  were  spoiled  and  wronged,  should 
at  length  make  slaves  of  their  oppressors,  and  con 
tinue  slavery  to  their  posterity,  it  would  look  rigor 
ous  to  candid  men ;  but  to  act  that  part  toward  a 
people,  when  neither  they  nor  their  fathers  have 
injured  us,  hath  something  in  it  extraordinary,  and 
requires  our  serious  attention. 

Our  children  breaking  a  bone,  getting  so  bruised 
that  a  leg  or  an  arm  must  be  taken  off;  lost  for 
a  few  hours,  so  that  we  despair  of  their  being  found 

u  2 


SOS 


;  a  friend  hurt,  so  that  ho  dieth  in  a  day  or 
two  ;  these  move  MS  with  grief.  Did  \ve  attend 
to  these  scenes  in  Africa,  in  like  manner  as  if  they 
were  transacted  in  our  presence  ;  and  sympathize 
With  the  negroes  in  all  their  afflictions  and  miseries, 
as  we  do  with  our  children  or  friends  ;  we  should 
be  more  careful  to  do  nothing  in  any  degree  helping 
forward  a  trade  productive  of  so  many  and  so  great 
calamities.  Great  distance  makes  nothing  in  our 

o 

favour.  To  willingly  join  with  unrighteousness  to 
the  injury  of  men  who  live  some  thousand  miles  off, 
is  the  same,  in  substance,  as  joining  with  it  to  the 
injury  of  our  neighbours. 

In  the  eye  of  pure  justice,  actions  are  regarded 
according  to  the  spirit  and  disposition  they  arise 
from.  Some  evils  are  accounted  scandalous,  and 
the  desire  of  reputation  may  keep  selfish  men  from 
appearing  openly  in  them  ;  but  he,  who  is  shy  on 
that  account,  and  yet  by  indirect  means  promotes 
that  evil,  and  shares  in  the  profit  of  it,  cannot  be 
innocent. 

He  who,  with  a  view  to  self-interest,  buys  a  slave, 
made  so  by  violence,  and  only  on  the  strength  of 
such  purchase  holds  him  a  slave,  thereby  joins  hands 
with  those  who  committed  that  violence,  and,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  becomes  chargeable  with  the  guilt. 

Suppose  a  man  wants  a  slave,  and,  being  in 
Guinea,  goes  and  hides  by  the  path  where  boys 
pass  from  one  little  town  to  another,  and  there 
catches  one  the  day  he  expects  to  sail  ;  and,  taking 
him  on  board,  brings  him  home,  without  any  ag 
gravating  circumstances.  Suppose  another  buys  a 


309 

man,  taken  by  iheiri  who  live  by  plunder  and  the 
slave-trade :  they  often  steal  them  privately,  and 
often  shed  much  blood  in  getting  them.  He  who 
buys  the  slaves  thus  taken,  pays  those  men  for  their 
wickedness,  and  makes  himself  party  with  them. 

Whatever  nicety  of  distinction  there  may  be 
betwixt  going  in  person  on  expeditions  to  catch 
slaves,  and  buying  those,  with  a  view  to  self- 
interest,  which  others  have  taken  ;  it  is  clear  and 
plain,  to  an  upright  mind,  that  such  distinction  is 
in  words,  not  in  substance  ;  for  the  parties  are  con 
cerned  in  the  same  work,  and  have  a  necessary 
connexion  with,  and  dependence  on  each  other  ; 
for  were  there  none  to  purchase  slaves,  they  who 
live  by  stealing  and  selling  them,  would  of  conse 
quence  do  less  at  it. 

Some  would  buy  a  negro  brought  from  Guinea, 
with  a  view  to  self-interest,  and  keep  him  a  slave, 
\vho  yet  would  seem  to  scruple  to  take  arms  and 
join  with  men  employed  in  taking  slaves. 

Others  have  civil  negroes,  who  were  born  in  our 
country,  capable  and   likely  to   manage   well   for 
themselves;    whom   they  keep  as   slaves,    without 
ever  trying  them  with  freedom,  and  take  the  profit 
of  their  labour  as  a  part  of  their  estates,  and  yet 
disapprove  bringing  them  from  their  own  country. 
If  those  negroes  had  come  here  as  merchants, 
with  their  ivory  and  gold-dust,  in  order  to  trade 
with  us,  and  some  powerful  person  had  taken  their 
effects  to  himself,  and  then  put  them  to  hard  labour, 
and  ever  after  considered  them  as  slaves,  the  action 
would  be  looked  upon  as  unrighteous. 


310 

Those  negro  merchants  having  children  after 
their  being  among  us,  whose  endowments  and  con- 
duct  were  like  other  people's  in  common,  if,  on  their 
attaining  to  mature  age,  and  requesting  to  have 
their  liberty,  they  should  be  told  they  were  born  in 
slavery,  and  were  lawful  slaves,  and  therefore  their 
request  should  be  denied  ;  such  conduct  toward 
them,  would  be  looked  upon  as  unfair  and  oppres 
sive. 

In  the  present  case,  relating  to  home-born  negroes, 
whose  understandings  and  behaviour  are  as  good  as 
common  among  other  people,  if  we  have  any  claim 
to  them  as  slaves,  that  claim  is  grounded  on  their 
being  children  or  offspring  of  slaves,  who,  in  gene 
ral,  were  made  such  through  means  as  unrighteous, 
and  attended  with  more  terrible  circumstances  than 
the  case  last  supposed  ;  so  that  when  we  trace  our 
claim  to  the  bottom,  these  home-born  negroes  hav 
ing  paid  for  their  education,  and  given  reasonable 
security  to  those  who  owned  them,  in  case  of  their 
becoming  chargeable,  we  have  no  more  equitable 
right  to  their  service,  than  we  should  if  they  were 
the  children  of  honest  merchants  who  came  from 
Guinea  in  an  English  vessel  to  trade  with  us. 

If  we  claim  any  right  to  them  as  the  children  of 
slaves,  we  build  on  the  foundation  laid  by  them 
who  made  slaves  of  their  ancestors  ;  so  that  of  ne 
cessity  we  must  either  justify  the  trade,  or  relin 
quish  our  right  to  them,  as  being  the  children  of 
slaves. 

Why  should  it  seem  right  to  honest  men  to  make 
advantage  by  these  people  more  than  by  others  ? 


311 

Others  enjoy  freedom,  and  receive  wages  equal  to 
their  work,,  at  or  near  such  time  as  they  have  dis 
charged  the  equitable  obligations  they  are  under  to 
those  who  educated  them — these  have  made  no 
contract  to  serve ;  been  no  more  expensive  in  rais 
ing  up  than  others,  and  many  of  them  appear  as 
likely  to  make  a  right  use  of  freedom  as  other  peo 
ple  ;  which  way  then  can  an  honest  man  withhold 
from  them  that  liberty,  which  is  the  free  gift  of  the 
Most  High  to  his  rational  creatures  ? 

The  upright  in  heart  cannot  succeed  the  wicked 
in  their  wickedness  ;  nor  is  it  consonant  to  the  life 
they  live,  to  hold  fast  an  advantage  unjustly  gained. 

The  negroes  who  live  by  plunder  and  the  slave- 
trade,  steal  poor  innocent  children,  invade  their 
neighbours'  territories,  and  spill  much  blood  to  get 
these  slaves  ;  arid  can  it  be  possible  for  an  honest 
man  to  think  that,  with  a  view  to  self-interest,  we 
may  continue  slavery  to  the  offspring  of  these  un 
happy  sufferers,  merely  because  they  are  the  children 
of  slaves,  and  not  have  a  share  of  this  guilt  ? 

It  is  granted  by  many,  that  the  means  used  in 
getting  them  are  unrighteous,  and  that  buying  them, 
when  brought  here,  is  wrong  ;  yet,  as  setting  them 
free  is  attended  with  some  difficulty,  they  do  riot 
comply  with  it ;  but  seem  to  be  of  the  opinion,  that 
to  give  them  food  and  raiment,  and  keep  them  ser 
vants  without  any  other  wages,  is  the  best  way  to 
manage  them  that  they  know  of;  and  hoping 
that  their  children  after  them  will  not  be  cruel  to 
the  negroes,  conclude  to  leave  them  as  slaves  to 
their  children. 


312 

While  present  outward  interest  is  the  chief  ob 
ject  of  our  attention,,  we  shall  feel  many  objections 
in  our  minds  against  renouncing  our  claim  to  them, 
as  the  children  of  slaves  ;  for  being  prepossessed 
with  wrong  opinions,  prevents  our  seeing  things 
clearly,  which,  to  indifferent  persons,  are  easy  to 
be  seen. 

Suppose  a  person  seventy  years  past,  in  low  cir 
cumstances,,  bought  a  negro  man  and  woman,  and 
that  the  children  of  such  person  are  now  wealthy, 
and  have  the  children  of  such  slaves.  Admit  that 
the  first  negro  man  and  his  wife  did  as  much  bu-r 
siness  as  their  master  and  mistress,,  and  that  the 
chili! ren  of  the  slaves  have  done  some  more  than 
their  young  masters.  Suppose,  on  the  whole,,  thai 
the  expense  of  living  has  been  less  on  the  negroes' 
side,  than  on  the  other  (all  which  are  no  improba 
ble  suppositions^)  it  follows,  that  in  equity,  these 
negroes  have  a  right  to  a  part  of  this  increase :  that 
should  some  difficulties  arise  on  their  being  set  free 
there  is  reason  for  us  patiently  to  labour  through 
them. 

As  the  conduct  of  men  varies,  relating  to  civil 
society ;  so  different  treatment  is  justly  due  to 
them.  Indiscreet  men  occasion  trouble  in  the  world  ; 
and  it  remains  to  be  the  care  of  such,  who  seek  the 
good  of  mankind,  to  admonish  as  they  find  occa 
sion. 

The  slothfulness  of  some  of  them,  in  providing  for 
themselves  and  families,  it  is  likely,  would  require 
the  notice  of  their  neighbours;  nor  is  it  unlikely 
that  some  would,  with  justice,  be  made  servants, 


313 

and  others  punished  for  their  crimes.  Pure  justice 
points  out  to  each  individual  his  due  ;  but  to  deny 
a  people  the  privilege  of  human  creatures,  on  a  sup 
position,  that,  being  free,  many  of  them  would  be 
troublesome  to  us,  is  to  mix  the  condition  of  good 
and  bad  men  together,  and  treat  the  whole  as  the 
worst  of  them  deserve. 

If  we  seriously  consider,  that  liberty  is  the  right 
of  innocent  men  ;  that  the  mighty  God  is  a  refuge 
for  the  oppressed;  that  in  reality  we  are  indebted  to 
them  ;  that  they  being  set  free,  are  still  liable  to  the 
penalties  of  our  laws,  and  as  likely  to  have  punish 
ment  for  their  crimes  as  other  people  :  this  may 
answer  all  our  objections.  And  to  retain  them  in 
perpetual  servitude,  without  just  cause  for  it,  will 
produce  effects,  in  the  event,  more  grievous  than 
setting  them  free  would  do,  when  a  real  love  to 
truth  and  equity  was  the  motive  to  it. 

Our  authority  over  them  stands  originally  hi  a 
purchase  made  from  those  who,  as  to  the  general, 
obtained  theirs  by  unrighteousness.  Whenever  we 
have  recourse  to  such  authority,  it  tends  more  or 
less  to  obstruct  the  channels,  through  which  the 
perfect  plant  in  us  receives  nourishment. 

There  is  a  principle,  which  is  pure,  placed  in  the 
human  mind,  which  in  different  places  and  ages  hath 
had  different  names ;  it  is,  however,  pure,  and  pro 
ceeds  from  God. — It  is  deep,  and  inward,  confined 
to  no  forms  of  religion,  rior  excluded  from  any, 
where  the  heart  stands  in  perfect  sincerity.  In 
whomsoever  this  takes  root,  and  grows,  of  what  na 
tion  soever,  they  become  brethren,  in  the  best  sense 


314 

of  the  expression.  Using  ourselves  to  take  ways 
which  appear  most  easy  to  us,  when  inconsistent 
with  that  purity,  which  is  without  beginning,  we 
thereby  set  up  a  government  of  our  own,  and  deny 
obedience  to  Him,  whose  service  is  true  liberty. 

He  that  hath  a  servant,  made  so  wrongfully,  and 
knows  it  to  be  so,  when  he  treats  him  otherwise  than 
a  free  man,  when  he  reaps  the  benefit  of  his  labour, 
without  paying  him  such  wages  as  are  reasonably 
due  to  freemen  for  the  like  service,  clothes  except- 
ed;  these  things,  though  done  in  calmness,  without 
any  show  of  disorder,  do  yet  deprave  the  mind  in 
like  manner,  and  with  as  great  certainty,  as  prevail 
ing  cold  congeals  water.  These  steps  taken  by 
masters,  and  their  conduct  striking  the  minds  of 
their  children  whilst  young,  leave  less  room  for  that 
which  is  good  to  work  upon  them.  The  customs 
of  their  parents,  their  neighbours,  and  the  people 
with  whom  they  converse,  working  upon  their 
minds;  and  they,  from  thence  conceiving  ideas  of 
things,  and  modes  of  conduct,  the  entrance  into 
their  hearts  becomes,  in  a  great  measure,  shut  up 
against  the  gentle  rnovings  of  uncreated  purity. 

From  one  age  to  another,  the  gloom  grows 
thicker  and  darker,  till  error  gets  established  by 
general  opinion ;  that  whoever  attends  to  perfect 
goodness,  and  remains  under  the  melting  influence 
of  it,  finds  a  path  unknown  to  many,  and  sees  the 
necessity  to  lean  upon  the  arm  of  divine  strength, 
and  dwell  alone  ;  or  with  a  few  in  the  right,  com 
mitting  their  cause  to  Him,  who  is  a  refuge  for  his 
people  in  all  their  troubles. 


315 

Where,  through  the  agreement  of  a  multitude, 
some  channels  of  justice  are  stopped,  and  men  may 
support  their  characters,,  as  just  men,  by  being  just 
to  a  party,  there  is  great  danger  of  contracting  an 
alliance  with  that  spirit,  which  stands  in  opposition 
to  the  God  of  love,  and  spreads  discord,  trouble, 
and  vexation,  among  such  as  give  up  to  the 
influence  of  it. 

Negroes  are  our  fellow-creatures.,  and  their  pre 
sent  condition  amongst  us  requires  our  serious  con 
sideration.  We  know  not  the  time  when  those 
scales,  in  which  mountains  are  weighed,  may  turn. 
The  Parent  of  mankind  is  gracious  :  his  care  is 
over  his  smallest  creatures;  and  a  multitude  of  men 
escape  riot  his  notice ;  and  though  many  of  them 
are  trodden  down,  and  despised,  yet  He  remembers 
them.  He  seeth  their  affliction,  and  looketh  upon 
the  spreading,increasing,  exaltation  of  the  oppressor. 
He  turns  the  channels  of  power,  humbles  the  most 
haughty  people,  and  gives  deliverance  to  the  op 
pressed,  at  such  periods  as  are  consistent  with  his 
infinite  justice  and  goodness.  And  wherever  gain 
is  preferred  to  equity,  and  wrong  things  publicly 
encouraged  to  that  degree,  that  wickedness  takes 
root,  and  spreads  wide  amongst  the  inhabitants  of 
a  country,  there  is  real  cause  for  sorrow  to  all 
such,  whose  love  to  mankind  stands  on  a  true  prin 
ciple,  and  who  wisely  consider  the  end  and  event  of 
things. 


CONSIDERATIONS 
JffB  r^fR.t3NH?iJftOD   k>  Ttj^nnB^lKCX'J^j  V.i  •'•)  r      »'  , 

PURE  WISDOM,  AND  HUMAN  POLICY; 

ON 

LABOUR- 

ON 

SCHOOLS; 

AND    ON 

THE  RIGHT  USE  OF  THE  LORD'S 
OUTWARD  GIFTS. 

[First  printed  in  the  Year  1768.] 


INTRODUCTION. 

MY  mind  hath  often  been  affected  with  sorrow  on 
account  of  the  prevailing  of  that  spirit,  which  leads 
from  an  humble  waiting  on  the  inward  teaching  of 
Christ,  to  pursue  ways  of  living,  attended  with  un 
necessary  labour,  and  which  draws  forth  the  minds 
of  many  people  to  seek  after  outward  power,  and 
to  strive  for  riches,  which  frequently  introduce  op 
pression,  and  bring  forth  wars  and  grievous  calami 
ties. 

It  is  with  reverence  that  I  acknowledge  the  mer 
cies  of  our  heavenly  Father,  who,  in  infinite  love, 


317 

did  visit  me  in  my  youth,  and  wrought  a  belief  in 
me,  that  through  true  obedience  a  state  of  inward 
purity  may  be  known  in  this  life,  in  which  we  may 
love  mankind  in  the  same  love  with  which  our 
Redeemer  loveth  us,  and  therein  learn  resignation 
to  endure  hardships,  for  the  real  good  of  others. 

fc  While  the  eye  is  single,  the  whole  body  is  full 
of  light/'  Matt.  vi.  22.  but  for  want  of  this,  selfish 
desires,  and  an  imaginary  superiority,  darken  the 
mind:  hence  injustice  frequently  proceeds;  and 
where  this  is  the  case  to  convince  the  judgment,  is 
the  most  effectual  remedy. 

Where  violent  measures  are  pursued  in  opposing 
injustice,  the  passions  and  resentments  of  the  in 
jured,  frequently  operate  in  the  prosecution  of  their 
designs ;  and,  after  conflicts  productive  of  very 
great  calamities,  the  minds  of  contending  parties 
often  remain  as  little  acquainted  with  the  pure  prin 
ciple  of  divine  love,  as  they  were  before ;  but  where 
people  walk  in  that  pure  light  in  which  all  their 
"  works  are  wrought  in  God/'  John  iii.  21.  and, 
under  oppression,  persevere  in  the  meek  spirit, 
and  abide  firm  in  the  cause  of  truth,  without 
actively  complying  with  oppressive  demands, 
through  those  the  Lord  hath  often  manifested  his 
power,  in  opening  the  understandings  of  others,  to 
the  promoting  of  righteousness  in  the  earth. 

A  time,  I  believe  is  coming,  wherein  this  divine 
work  will  so  spread  arid  prevail,  that  "  Nation  shall 
not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  nor  learn  war  any 
more/'  Isaiah,  ii.  4.  And  as  we,  through  the  ten- 


318 

der  mercies  of  God,,  do  feel  that  this  precious  work 
is  begun,,  I  am  concerned  to  encourage  my  breth 
ren  and  sisters  in  a  holy  care  and  diligence,  that 
each  of  us  may  so  live  under  the  sanctifying  power 
of  truth,  as  to  be  redeemed  from  all  unnecessary 
cares ;  that  our  eye  being  single  to  Him,,  no  customs 
however  prevalent,  which  are  contrary  to  the  wis 
dom  from  above,  may  hinder  us  from  faithfully  fol 
lowing  his  holy  leadings,  in  whatsoever  he  may 
graciously  appoint  for  us. 


CONSIDERATIONS,  &c. 


The  wisdom  that  is  from  above,  is  first  pure,  then  peaceable, 
gentle,  and  easy  to  be  intreated,  full  of  mercy,  and  good  fruits, 
without  partiality,  and  without  hypocrisy." — JAMES  iii.  17. 


On  Pure  Wisdom,  and  Human  Policy. 

To  have  our  trust  settled  in  the  Lord,  and  not 
to  seek  after,  nor  desire  outward  treasures,  any  fur 
ther  than  his  Holy  Spirit  leads  us  therein,  is  a 
happy  state,  as  saith  the  prophet,  ee  Blessed  is  the 
man  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord,  and  whose  hope  the 
Lord  is." 

Pure  wisdom  leads  people  into  lowliness  of  mind, 
in  which  they  learn  resignation  to  the  divine  will, 
and  contentment  in  suffering  for  his  cause,  when 
they  cannot  keep  a  clear  conscience  without  suf 
fering. 

In  this  pure  wisdom  the  mind  is  attentive  to  the 
root,  and  original  spring  of  motions  and  desires ; 
and  as  we  know  "the  Lord  to  be  our  refuge/'  and 
find  no  safety,  but  in  humbly  walking  before  Him ; 
we  feel  an  holy  engagement,  that  every  desire 
which  leads  therefrom  may  be  brought  to  judg 
ment. 


320 

While  we  proceed  in  this  precious  way,  and  find 
ardent  longings  for  a  full  deliverance  from  every 
thing  which  defiles ;  all  prospects  of  gain,,  that  are 
not  consistent  with  the  wisdom  from  above,  are  con 
sidered  as  snares,  and  an  inward  concern  is  felt,  that 
we  may  live  under  the  cross,  and  faithfully  attend 
to  that  Holy  Spirit.,  which  is  sufficient  to  preserve 
out  of  them. 

When  I  have  considered  that  saying  of  Christ, 
Mat.  vi.  19,  C(  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
upon  earth  ;"  his  omnipotence  hath  often  occurred 
to  my  mind. 

While  we  believe  that  He  is  every  where  present 
with  his  people,  and,  that  perfect  goodness,  wisdom 
and  power,  are  united  in  Him,  how  comfortable  is 
the  consideration. 

Our  wants  may  be  great,  but  his  power  is  greater. 
We  may  be  oppressed  and  despised,  but  He  is  able 
to  turn  our  patient  sufferings  into  profit  to  our 
selves,  and  to  the  advancement  of  his  work  on 
earth.  His  people,  who  feel  the  power  of  his  cross, 
to  crucify  all  that  is  selfish  in  them ;  who  are  en 
gaged  in  outward  concerns,  from  a  convincernent 
that  it  is  their  duty,  and  resign  themselves,  and  their 
treasures,  to  Him  ;  these  feel  that  it  is  dangerous  to 
give  way  to  that  in  us,  which  craves  riches  and 
greatness  in  this  world. 

As  the  heart,  truly  contrite,  earnestly  desires  cc  to 
know  Christ,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings/' 
Phil.  iii.  10.  so  far  as  the  Lord  for  gracious  ends 
may  lead  into  them  ;  as  such,  feel  that  it  is  their  in 
terest  to  put  their  trust  in  God,  and  to  seek  no  gain 


321 

but  that  which  he,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  leads  into  ; 
so,  on  the  contrary,  they  who  do  not  reverently  wait 
for  this  divine  teacher,  and  are  not  humbly  con 
cerned,  according1  to  their  measure,  "  to  fill  up  that 
which  is  behind  of  the  afflictions  of  Christ,"  Col.  i. 
#4,  in  patiently  suffering  for  the  promoting-  of  right 
eousness  in  the  earth  ;  but  have  an  eye  toward  the 
power  of  men,  and  the  outward  advantage  of  wealth, 
these  are  often  attentive  to  those  employments 
which  appear  profitable,  even  though  the  gains 
arise  from  such  trade  and  business  which  proceeds 
from  the  working's  of  that  spirit,  which  is  estranged 
from  the  self-denying  life  of  an  humble,  contrite 
Christian. 

While  I  write  on  this  subject,  I  feel  my  mind  ten 
derly  affected  toward  those  honestly  disposed  peo 
ple,  who  have  been  brought  up  in  employments 
attended  with  those  difficulties. 

To  such  I  may  say,  in  the  feeling  of  our  heavenly 
Father's  love,  and  number  myself  with  you,  O  that 
our  eyes  may  be  single  to  the  Lord  !  May  we 
reverently  wait  on  him  for  strength,  to  lay  aside  all 
unnecessary  expense  of  every  kind,  and  learn  con 
tentment  in  a  plain,  simple  life. 

May  we,  in  lowliness,  submit  to  the  leadings  of  his 
spirit,  and  enter  upon  any  outward  employ  which  He 
graciously  points  out  to  us,  and  then  whatever  diffi 
culties  arise,  in  consequence  of  our  faithfulness,  I 
trust  they  will  work  for  our  good. 

Small  treasure  to  a  resigned  mind  is  sufficient. 
How  happy  is  it  to  be  content  with  a  little,  tp  live 


322 

in  humility,  and  feel  that  in  us,  which  breathes  out 
this  language,  Abba !  Father. 

If  that,  called  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  had  no 
resemblance  to  true  wisdom,  the  name  of  wisdom, 
I  suppose,  had  not  been  given  to  it. 

As  wasting  outward  substance,  to  gratify  vain 
desires,  on  one  hand  ;  so  slothfulness  and  neglect, 
on  the  other,  do  often  involve  men  and  their  fami 
lies  in  trouble,  and  reduce  them  to  want  and  dis 
tress.  To  shun  both  these  opposite  vices,  is  good  in 
itself,  and  hath  a  resemblance  to  wisdom ;  but  while 
people  thus  provident,  have  it  principally  in  view  to 
get  riches,  and  power,  and  the  friendship  of  this 
world,  and  do  not  humbly  wait  for  the  spirit  of  truth 
to  lead  them  in  purity;  these  through  an  anxious 
care  to  obtain  the  end  desired,  reach  forth  for  gain 
in  worldly  wisdom,  and  in  regard  to  their  inward 
state,  fall  into  divers  temptations  and  snares.  And 
though  such  may  think  of  applying  wealth  to  good 
purposes,  and  using  their  power  to  prevent  oppres 
sion,  yet  wealth  and  power  are  often  applied  other 
wise;  nor  can  we  depart  from  the  leadings  of  our 
holy  shepherd,  without  going  into  confusion. 

Great  wealth  is  frequently  attended  with  power, 
which  nothing  but  divine  love  can  qualify  the  mind 
to  use  rightly ;  and,  as  to  the  humility,  and  upright 
ness  of  our  children  after  us,  how  great  is  the  un 
certainty!  If,  in  acquiring  wealth,  we  take  hold  on 
the  wisdom  which  is  from  beneath,  and  depart 
from  the  leadings  of  truth,  and  example  our  chil 
dren  herein,  we  have  great  cause  to  apprehend,, 


SS3 

that  wealth  may  be  a  snare  to  them  ;  and  prove  an 
injury  to  others,  over  whom  their  wealth  may  give 
them  power. 

To  be  redeemed  from  that  wisdom  which  is  from 
beneath,  and  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord,  is  a 
precious  situation ;  thus  his  people  are  brought  to 
put  their  trust  in  Him  ;  and,  in  this  humble  confi 
dence  in  his  wisdom,  goodness  and  power,  the  right 
eous  find  a  refuge  in  adversities,  superior  to  the 
greatest  outward  helps,  and  a  comfort  more  certain 
than  any  worldly  advantages  can  afford. 


On  Labour. 

Having,  from  my  childhood,  been  used  to  bodily 
labour  for  a  living,  I  may  express  my  experience 
therein. 

Right  exercise  affords  an  innocent  pleasure  in  the 
time  of  it,  and  prepares  us  to  enjoy  the  sweetness 
of  rest ;  but,  from  the  extremes  each  way,  arise  in- 
conveniencies. 

Moderate  exercise  opens  the  pores,  gives  the 
blood  a  lively  circulation,  and  the  better  enables  us 
to  judge  rightly  respecting  that  portion  of  labour 
which  is  the  true  medium. 

' '  The  fowls  of  the  air  sow  not,  nor  gather  into 
barns,  yet  our  heavenly  Father  feedeth  them/' 
Matt.  vi.  26;  nor  do  I  believe  that  infinite  good 
ness  and  power  would  have  allotted  labour  to  us, 
had  He  not  seen  that  labour  was  proper  for  us  in 
this  life. 

x  2 


S24 

The  original  design,  and  true  medium  of  labour, 
is  a  subject,  that,  to  me,  appears  worthy  of  our 
serious  consideration. 

Idle  men  are  often  a  burden  to  themselves,  neg 
lect  the  duty  they  owe  to  their  families,  and  become 
burdensome  to  others  also. 

As  outward  labour,  directed  by  the  wisdom  from 
above,  tends  to  our  health,  and  adds  to  our  happi 
ness  in  this  life  ;  so,  on  the  contrary,  entering  upon 
it  in  a  selfish  spirit,  and  pursuing  it  too  long,  or  too 
hard,  has  a  contrary  effect. 

I  have  observed,  that  too  much  labour  not  only 
makes  the  understanding  dull,  but  so  intrudes  upon 
the  harmony  of  the  body,  that,  after  ceasing  from 
our  toil,  we  have  another  to  pass  through,  before 
\ve  can  be  so  composed  as  to  enjoy  the  sweetness 
of  rest. 

From  too  much  labour  in  the  heat,  frequently 
proceed  immoderate  sweats,  which  do  often,  I  be 
lieve,  open  the  way  for  disorders,  and  impair  our 
constitutions. 

When  we  go  beyond  the  true  medium,  and  feel 
weariness  approaching,  but  think  business  may  suf 
fer  if  we  cease,  at  such  a  time  spirituous  liquors  are 
frequently  taken,  with  a  view  to  support  nature 
under  these  fatigues. 

I  have  found  that  too  much  labour,  in  the  sum 
mer,  heats  the  blood ;  that  taking  strong  drink  to 
support  the  body  under  such  labour,  increaseth  that 
heat,  and  though  a  person  may  be  so  far  temperate 
as  not  to  manifest  the  least  disorder,  yet  the  mind, 
in  such  a  circumstance,  doth  not  retain  that  calm- 


ness  and  serenity,,  which  we  should  endeavour  to 
live  in. 

Thus  toiling  in  the  heat,  and  drinking  strong 
liquor,  make  men  more  resolute,  and  less  consi 
derate,  and  tend  very  much  to  disqualify  them 
from  successfully  following  Him  who  was  meek  and 
low  of  heart. 

As  laying  out  business,  more  than  is  consistent 
with  pure  wisdom,  is  an  evil,  so  this  evil  frequently 
leads  into  more.  Too  much  business  leads  to 
hurry.  In  the  hurry  and  toil,  too  much  strong 
drink  is  often  used,  and  hereby  many  proceed  to 
noise,  wantonness,  and  some,  though  more  consi 
derate,  do  often  suffer  loss,  as  to  a  true  composed - 
ness  of  mind. 

I  feel  sincere  desires  in  my  heart,  that  no  rent, 
nor  interest,  might  be  laid  so  high  as  to  be  a  snare 
to  tenants ;  that  no  desires  of  gain  may  draw  any 
too  far  in  business ;  that  no  cares  to  support  cus 
toms,  which  have  not  their  foundation  in  pure 
wisdom,  may  have  place  in  our  minds;  but  that  we 
may  build  on  the  sure  foundation,  and  feel  our  holy 
Shepherd  to  lead  us,  who  alone  is  able  to  preserve 
us,  and  bring  forth  from  every  thing  that  defiles. 

Having  several  times,  in  my  travels,  had  oppor 
tunity  to  observe  the  labour  and  manner  of  life  of 
great  numbers  of  slaves,  it  appears  to  me  that  the 
true  medium  is  lamentably  neglected  by  many,  who 
assign  them  their  portion  of  labour. 

Without  saying  much  at  this  time,  concerning 
buying  and  selling  men  for  term  of  life,  who  have 
as  just  a  right  to  liberty  as  we  have,  nor  about  the 


326 

great  miseries,  and  effusion  of  blood,,  consequent  on 
promoting  the  slave  trade;  and  to  speak  as  favour 
ably  as  may  be,  with  regard  to  continuing  those  in 
bondage  who  are  amongst  us,  we  cannot  say  there 
is  no  partiality  in  it.  For,  whatever  tenderness  may 
be  manifested  by  individuals  in  their  life  time,  to 
ward  them,  yet  for  people  to  be  transmitted  from  a 
man  to  his  posterity,  in  the  helpless  condition  of 
slaves,  appears  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  the 
gospel  spirit.  From  such  proceedings  it  often  fol 
lows,  that  persons  in  the  decline  of  life,  are  deprived 
of  monies  equitably  due  to  them,  and  committed  to 
the  care,  and  subjected  to  the  absolute  power  of 
young  unexperienced  men,  who  know  but  little 
about  the  weakness  of  old  age,  nor  understand  the 
language  of  declining  life. 

Where  parents  give  their  estates  to  their  children, 
and  then  depend  on  them  for  a  maintenance,  they 
sometimes  meet  with  great  inconveniencies;  but  if 
the  power  of  possession,  thus  obtained,  doth  often 
reverse  the  obligations  of  gratitude  and  filial  duty, 
and  make  manifest,  that  youth  are  often  ignorant 
of  the  language  of  old  age,  how  hard  is  the  case 
of  ancient  negroes,  who,  deprived  of  the  wages 
equitably  due  to  them,  are  left  to  young  people, 
who  have  been  used  to  look  upon  them  as  their 
inferiors. 

For  men  to  behold  the  fruits  of  their  labour  with 
held  from  them,  and  possessed  by  others,  and  in  old 
age,  find  themselves  destitute  of  those  comfortable 
accommodations,  and  that  tender  regard  which  their 
time  of  life  requires. 


When  they  feel  pains,  and  stillness  in  their  joints 
and  limbs,,  weakness  of  appetite,  and  that  a  little 
labour  is  wearisome,  and  still  behold  themselves  in 
the  neglected,  uncomfortable,  condition  of  a  slave, 
and,  oftentimes,  to  a  young,  unsympathising  man. 

For  men  to  be  thus  treated,  from  one  generation 
to  another,  who,  besides  their  own  distresses,  think 
on  the  slavery  entailed  on  their  posterity,  and  are 
grieved!  What  disagreeable  thoughts  must  they 
have  of  the  professed  followers  of  Jesus!  and  how 
must  their  groans  ascend  to  that  Almighty  Being, 
who  "  will  be  a  refuge  for  the  oppressed/'  Psalm 
ix.  9. 


On  Schools. 

r  -^ 

'..  u  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me?  and  forbid  them  not, 
Xv^^      for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God." — Mark  x.  14.      ^/ 

To  encourage  children  to  do  things  with  a  view 
to  get  praise  of  men,  to  me  appears  an  obstruction 
to  their  being  inwardly  acquainted  with  the  spirit  of 
truth.  For  it  is  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
direct  the  mind  to  God,  that  in  all  our  proceedings 
we  may  have  a  single  eye  to  Him.  To  give  alms  in 
secret,  to  fast  in  secret,  and  labour  to  keep  clear  of 
that  disposition  reproved  by  our  Saviour,  "  But  all 
their  works  they  do  for  to  be  seen  of  men/'  Matt, 
xxiii.  5. 

That  divine  light  which  enlightens  all  men,  I 
believe  docs  often  shine  in  the  minds  of  children 


328 

very  early,  and  to  humbly  wait  for  wisdom,  that 
our  conduct  toward  them  may  tend  to  forward 
their  acquaintance  with  it,  and  strengthen  them  in 
obedience  thereto,  appears  to  me  to  be  a  duty  on 
all  of  us. 

By  cherishing  the  spirit  of  pride,  and  the  love  of 
praise  in  them,  I  believe  they  may  sometimes  im 
prove  faster  in  learning,  than  otherwise  they  would  ; 
but  to  take  measures  to  forward  children  in  learn 
ing,  which  naturally  tend  to  divert  their  minds  from 
true  humility,  appears  to  me  to  savour  of  the  wis 
dom  of  this  world. 

If  tutors  are  riot  acquainted  with  sanctiiication  of 
spirit,  nor  experienced  in  an  humble  waiting  for  the 
leadings  of  truth,  but  follow  the  maxims  of  the  wis 
dom  of  this  world,  such  children  who  are  under  their 
tuition,  appear  to  me  to  be  in  danger  of  imbibing 
thoughts,  and  apprehensions,  reverse  to  that  meek 
ness,  and  lowliness  of  heart,  which  is  necessary  for 
all  the  true  followers  of  Christ. 

Children  at  an  age  fit  for  schools,  are  in  a  time 
of  life  which  requires  the  patient  attention  of  pious 
people,  and  if  we  commit  them  to  the  tuition  of 
such,  whose  minds  we  believe  are  not  rightly  pre 
pared  to  "  train  them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admo 
nition  of  the  Lord/'  we  are  in  danger  of  not  acting 
the  part  of  faithful  parents  toward  them.  For  our 
heavenly  Father  doth  not  require  us  to  do  evil,  that 
good  may  come  of  it;  and  it  is  needful  that  we 
deeply  examine  ourselves,  lest  we  get  entangled  in 
the  wisdom  of  this  world,  and  through  wrong  ap 
prehensions,  take  such  methods  in  education,  as 


329 

may  prove  a  great  injury   to  the   minds   of  our 
children. 

It  is  a  lovely  sight  to  behold  innocent  children !  and 
when  they  are  sent  to  such  schools  where  their  ten 
der  minds  are  in  imminentdanger  of  being  led  astray 
by  tutors,,  who  do  not  live  a  self-denying  life,,  or  by 
the  conversation  of  such  children,  who  do  not  live 
in  innocence,  it  is  a  case  much  to  be  lamented. 

While  a  pious  tutor  hath  the  charge  of  no  more 
children  than  he  can  take  due  care  of,  and  keeps  his 
authority  in  the  truth,  the  good  spirit  in  which  he 
leads  and  governs,  works  on  the  minds  of  such  who 
are  not  hardened,,  and  his  labours  not  only  tend  to 
bring  them  forward  in  outward  learning,  but  to 
open  their  understandings  with  respect  to  the  true 
Christian  life ;  but  where  a  person  hath  charge  of 
too  many,  and  his  thoughts  and  time  are  so  much 
employed  in  the  outward  affairs  of  his  school,  that 
he  does  not  so  weightily  attend  to  the  spirit  and 
conduct  of  each  individual,  as  to  be  enabled  to  ad 
minister  rightly  to  all  in  due  season  ;  through  such 
omission  he  not  only  suffers,  as  to  the  state  of  his 
own  mind,  but  the  minds  of  the  children  are  in 
danger  of  suffering  also. 

To  watch  the  spirit  of  children,,  to  nurture  them 
in  gospel  love,  and  labour  to  help  them  against  that 
which  would  mar  the  beauty  of  their  minds,  is  a 
debt  we  owe  them ;  and  a  faithful  performance  of  our 
duty,  not  only  tends  to  their  lasting  benefit,  and 
our  own  peace,  but  also  to  render  their  company 
agreeable  to  us. 

Instruction  thus  administered,  reaches  the  pure 


330 

witness  in  the  minds  of  such  children  who  are  not 
hardened,  and  begets  love  in  them  toward  those  who 
thus  lead  them  on;  but  where  too  great  a  number 
are  committed  to  a  tutor,  and  he,  through  much 
cumber,  omits  a  careful  attention  to  the  rninds  of 
children,  there  is  danger  of  disorders  gradually  in 
creasing  amongst  them,  until  the  effects  thereof 
appear  in  their  conduct,  too  strong  to  be  easily 
remedied. 

A  care  hath  lived  on  my  mind,  that  more  time 
might  be  employed  by  parents  at  home,  and  by 
tutors  at  school,  in  weightily  attending  to  the  spirit 
and  inclinations  of  children,  and  that  we  may  so 
lead,  instruct,  and  govern  them,  in  this  tender  part 
of  life,  that  nothing  may  be  omitted  in  our  power, 
to  help  them  on  their  way  to  become  the  children 
of  our  Father,  who  is  in  heaven. 

Meditating  on  the  situation  of  schools  in  our  pro 
vinces,  my  mind  hath,  at  times,  been  affected  with 
sorrow,  and,  under  these  exercises,  it  hath  appeared 
to  me,  that  if  those  who  have  large  estates,  were 
faithful  stewards,  and  laid  no  rent,  nor  interest,  nor 
other  demand,  higher  than  is  consistent  with  uni 
versal  love ;  and  those  in  lower  circumstances, 
would,  under  a  moderate  employ,  shun  unnecessary 
expense,  even  to  the  smallest  article ;  and  all  unite, 
in  humbly  seeking  to  the  Lord,  He  would  graciously 
instruct  us,  and  strengthen  us  to  relieve  the  youth 
from  various  snares,  in  which  many  of  them  are 
entangled. 


331 


On  the  right  use  of  the  Lord's  outward  gifts. 

As  our  understandings  are  opened  by  the  pure 
light,  we  experience  that,  through  an  inward  ap 
proaching  to  God,  the  mind  is  strengthened  in 
obedience  ;  and  that,,  by  gratifying  those  desires 
which  are  not  of  his  begetting,  those  approaches 
to  Him  are  obstructed,  and  the  deceivable  spirit 
gains  strength. 

These  truths,  being  as  it  were  engraven  upon  our 
hearts,  and  our  everlasting  interest  in  Christ  evi 
dently  concerned  herein,  we  become  fervently  en 
gaged,  that  nothing  may  be  nourished  which  tends 
to  feed  pride  or  self-love  in  us.  Thus,  in  pure  obe 
dience,  we  are  not  onlv  instructed  in  our  duty  to 
God,  but  also  in  the  affairs  which  necessarily  relate 
to  this  life,  and  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  guides  into 
all  truth,  leavens  the  mind  with  a  pious  concern, 
that  whatsoever  we  do  in  word  or  deed,  may  be 
done  in  his  name.  Col.  iii.  17. 

Hence,  such  buildings,  furniture,  food,  and  rai 
ment,  as  best  answer  our  necessities,  and  are  the 
least  likely  to  feed  that  selfish  spirit  which  is  our 
enemy,  are  the  most  acceptable  to  us. 

In  this  state  the  mind  is  tender,  arid  inwardly 
watchful,  that  the  love  of  gain  draw  us  not  into 
any  business,  which  may  weaken  our  love  to  our 
heavenly  Father,  or  bring  unnecessary  trouble  to 
any  of  his  creatures. 

Thus  the  way  gradually  opens  to  cease  from  that 


332 

spirit  which  craves  riches  and  things  fetched  far, 
which  so  mixeth  with  the  customs  of  this  world, 
and  so  intrudes  upon  the  true  harmony  of  life,  that 
the  right  medium  of  labour  is  very  much  departed 
from.  And  as  the  minds  of  people  are  settled  in  a 
steady  concern,  not  to  hold  nor  possess  any  thing 
but  what  may  be  held  consistent  with  the  wisdom 
from  above,  they  consider  what  they  possess  as  the 
gift  of  God,  and  are  inwardly  exercised,  that  in  all 
parts  of  their  conduct  they  may  act  agreeably  to  the 
nature  of  the  peaceable  government  of  Christ. 

A  little  supports  such  a  life  ;  and  in  a  state  truly 
resigned  to  the  Lord,  the  eye  is  single,  to  see  what 
outward  employ  He  leads  into,  as  a  means  of  our 
subsistence,  and  a  lively  care  is  maintained  to  hold 
to  that  without  launching  further. 

There  is  a  harmony  in  the  several  parts  of  this 
divine  work  in  the  hearts  of  people.  He  who  leads 
them  to  cease  from  those  gainful  employments, 
carried  on  in  that  wisdom  which  is  from  beneath, 
delivers  also  from  the  desire  after  worldly  great- 
.ness,  and  reconciles  the  mind  to  a  life  so  plain,  that 
a  little  doth  suffice. 

Here  the  real  comforts  of  life  are  not  lessened. 
Moderate  exercise,  in  the  way  of  true  wisdom,  is 
pleasant  both  to  mind  and  body. 

Pood  and  raiment  sufficient,  though  in  the  great 
est  simplicity,  are  accepted  with  content  and  grati 
tude. 

The  mutual  love,  subsisting  between  the  faithful 
followers  of  Christ,  is  more  pure  than  that  friend- 


ship  which  is  not  seasoned  with  humility,  how  spe 
cious  soever  the  appearance. 

Where  people  depart  from  pure  wisdom  in  one 
case,  it  is  often  an  introduction  to  depart  from  it  in 
many  more;  and  thus  a  spirit  which  seeks  for  out 
ward  greatness,  and  leads  into  worldly  wisdom  to 
attain  it,  and  support  it,  gets  possession  of  the 
mind. 

Jn  beholding  the  customary  departure  from  the 
true  medium  of  labour,  and  that  unnecessary  toil 
which  many  go  through,  -in  supporting  outward 
greatness,  and  procuring  delicacies. 

In  beholding  how  the  true  calmness  of  life  is 
changed  into  hurry,  and  that  many,  by  eagerly  pur 
suing  outward  treasure,  are  in  great  danger  of 
withering,  as  to  the  inward  state  of  the  mind. 

In  meditating  on  the  works  of  this  spirit,  and  on 
the  desolations  it  makes  amongst  the  professors  of 
Christianity,  I  may  thankfully  acknowledge,  that 
I  often  feel  pure  love  beget  longings  in  my  heart, 
for  the  exaltation  of  the  peaceable  kingdom  of 
Christ,  and  an  engagement  to  labour  according  to 
the  gift  bestowed  on  me,  for  the  promoting  an  hum 
ble,  plain,  temperate  way  of  living  :  a  life  where  no 
unnecessary  cares,  nor  expenses,  may  encumber  our 
rninds,  nor  lessen  our  ability  to  do  good  ;  where  no 
desires  after  riches,  or  greatness,  may  lead  into  hard 
dealings;  where  no  connection  with  worldly-minded 
men,  may  abate  our  love  to  God,  nor  weaken  a 
true  zeal  for  righteousness  :  a  life,  wherein  we  may 
diligently  labour  for  resignedness  to  do,  and  suffer, 


334 

whatever  our  heavenly  Father  may  allot  for  us,  in 
reconciling  the  world  to  Himself. 

When  the  prophet  Isaiah  had  uttered  his  vision, 
and  declared  that  a  time  was  coming  wherein 
swords  should  be  beaten  into  plough-shares,,  and 
spears  into  priming-hooks,  and  that  nation  should 
not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  nor  learn  war  any 
more;  he  immediately  directs  the  minds  of  peo 
ple  to  the  divine  teacher,  in  this  remarkable  lan 
guage,  "  O  house  of  Jacob,  come  ye,  and  let  us 
walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord."  Isaiah  ii.  5. 

To  wait  for  the  direction  of  this  light,  in  all  tem 
poral  as  well  as  spiritual  concerns,  appears  neces 
sary  ;  for  if  in  any  case  we  enter  lightly  into  tem 
poral  affairs,  without  feeling  this  Spirit  of  truth  to 
open  our  way  therein,  and,  through  the  love  of  this 
world,  proceed  on,  and  seek  for  gain  by  that  busi 
ness  or  traffic,  which  fc  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  of 
the  world/'  1  John  ii.  16,  we  fail  in  our  testimony 
to  the  purity  and  peace  of  his  government ;  and  get 
into  that  which  is  for  chastisement. 

This  matter  hath  lain  heavy  on  my  mind,  it  be 
ing  evident  that,  a  life  less  humble,  less  simple  and 
plain,  than  that  which  Christ  leads  his  sheep  into, 
does  necessarily  require  a  support,  which  pure  wis 
dom  does  not  provide  for ;  hence,  there  is  no  pro 
bability  of  our  being  cc  a  peculiar  people,  so  zeal 
ous  of  good  works,  as  to  have  no  fellowship  with 
works  of  darkness,"  Titus  ii.  14.  Ephes,  v.  11. 
while  we  have  wants  to  supply,  which  have  their 
foundation  in  custom,  and  do  not  come  within  the 


335 

meaning  of  those  expressions,  "  your  heavenly  Fa 
ther  knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these  things." 
Mat.  vi.  32. 

These  things  which  He  beholds  necessary  for  his 
people,  He  fails  not  to  give  them,,  in  his  own  way 
and  time;  but,,  as  his  ways  are  above  our  ways,  and 
his  thoughts  above  our  thoughts,  so,  imaginary 
wants  are  different  from  these  things  which  he 
knoweth  that  we  have  need  of. 

As  my  meditations  have  been  on  these  things, 
compassion  hath  filled  my  heart  toward  my  fellow- 
creatures,  involved  in  customs,  grown  up  in  cc  the 
wisdom  of  this  world,  which  is  foolishness  with 
God/'  1  Cor.  iii.  19 ;  and,  O  that  the  youth  may  be 
so  thoroughly  experienced  in  an  humble  walking 
before  the  Lord,  that  they  may  be  his  children,  and 
know  Him  to  be  their  refuge,  their  safe  unfailing 
refuge,  through  the  various  dangers  attending  this 
uncertain  state  of  being ! 

If  those  whose  minds  are  redeemed  from  the 
love  of  wealth,  and  who  are  content  with  a  plain 
simple  way  of  living,  do  yet  find  that  to  conduct 
the  affairs  of  a  family,  without  giving  countenance 
to  unrighteous  proceedings,  or  having  fellowship 
with  works  of  darkness,  the  most  diligent  care  is 
necessary. 

If  customs,  distinguishable  from  universal  righte 
ousness,  and  opposite  to  the  true  self-denying  life, 
are  now  prevalent,  and  so  mixed  with  trade,  and 
with  almost  every  employ,  that  it  is  only  through 
humble  waiting  on  the  inward  guidance  of  Truth, 


336 

that  we  may  reasonably  hope  to  walk  safely,  and 
support  an  uniform  testimony  to  the  peaceable  go 
vernment  of  Christ. 

If  this  be  the  case,  how  lamentably  do  they  ex 
pose  themselves  to  temptations,  who  give  way  to 
the  love  of  riches,  conform  to  expensive  living", 
and  reach  forth  for  gain,  to  support  customs,  which 
our  holy  Shepherd  leads  not  into. 


CONSIDERATIONS 


ON  THE 


TRUE  HARMONY  OF  MANKIND,  AND 
HOW  IT  IS  TO  BE  MAINTAINED. 

[First  printed  in  the  Year  1770.] 


INTRODUCTION. 

As  mankind^  from  one  parent  are  divided  into 
many  families,  and  as  trading  to  sea  is  greatly  in 
creased  within  a  few  ages  past ;  amidst  this  ex 
tended  commerce,  how  necessary  is  it,  that  the 
professed  followers  of  Christ  keep  sacred  his  holy 
name,  and  be  employed  about  trade  and  traffic  no 
farther  than  justice  and  equity  evidently  accom 
pany?  that  we  may  give  no  just  cause  of  offence 
to  any,  however  distant,  or  unable  to  plead  their 
own  cause ;  and  may  continually  keep  in  view  the 
spreading  of  the  true  and  saving  knowledge  ot 
God,  and  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  ampngst  our  fellow- 
creatures,  which,  through  his  infinite  love.,  some  feel 
to  be  more  precious  than  any  other  treasure. 


CONSIDERATIONS,  &c. 


u  And  the  remnant  of  Jacob  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  many  peo 
ple,  as  a  dew  from  the  Lord,  as  the  showers  upon  the  grass,  that 
tarrieth  not  for  man,  nor  waiteth  for  the  sons  of  men." — 
MICAII  v.  7. 


CHAP.  I. 

On  serving  the  Lord  in  our  outward  employments. 

UNDER  the  humbling  dispensations  of  the  Father 
of  Mercies,  I  have  felt  an  inward  labour  for  the 
good  of  my  fellow-creatures,  and  a  concern  that  the 
Holy  Spirit,  which  alone  can  restore  mankind  to  a 
state  of  true  harmony,  may,  with  singleness  of 
heart,  be  waited  for  and  followed. 

I  trust,  there  are  many  under  that  visitation, 
which,  if  faithfully  attended  to,  will  make  them 
quick  of  understanding  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and 
qualify  with  firmness  to  be  true  patterns  of  the 
Christian  lire,  who,  in  living  and  walking,  may  hold 
forth  an  invitation  to  others,  to  come  out  of  the 
entanglements  of  the  spirit  of  this  world. 

And  that  which  I  feel  first  to  express  is,  a  care 
for  those  who  are  in  circumstances  which  appear 
difficult,  with  respect  to  supporting  their  families 
in  a  way  answerable  to  pure  wisdom,  that  they  may 


339 

not  be  discouraged,  but  remember,  that  in  humbly 
obeying  the  leading  of  Christ  he  owneth  us  as  his 
friends  :  "  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I 
command  you  ;"  and  to  be  a  friend  to  Christ,  is  to 
be  united  to  Him  who  hath  all  power  in  heaven 
and  in  earth  ;  and,  though  a  woman  may  forget  her 
sucking  child,  yet  will  He  not  forget  his  faithful 
ones. 

The  condition  of  many  who  dwell  in  cities  hath 
often  affected  me  with  a  brotherly  sympathy,  at 
tended  with  a  desire,  that  resignation  may  be  la 
boured  for;  and  where  the  holy  Leader  directeth  to 
a  country  life,  or  some  change  of  employ.  He  may 
be  faithfully  followed.  For,  under  the  refining  hand 
of  the  Lord,  I  have  seen,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
some  cities  are  greatly  increased  through  some 
branches  of  business,  which  his  Holy  Spirit  doth  not 
lead  into,  and  that  being  entangled  in  these  things 
tends  to  bring  a  cloud  over  the  minds  of  people 
convinced  of  the  leadings  of  this  holy  Leader,  and 
obstructs  the  corning  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

Now,  if  we  indulge  a  desire  to  imitate  our  neigh 
bours  in  those  things  which  harmonize  not  with  the 
true  Christian  walking,  these  entanglements  may 
hold  fast  to  us,  and  some  who,  in  an  awakening  time, 
feel  tender  scruples  with  respect  to  their  manner  of 
life,  may  look  on  the  example  of  others  more  noted 
in  the  church,  who  yet  may  not  be  refined  from 
every  degree  of  dross.  By  looking  on  these  ex 
amples,  and  desiring  to  support  their  families  in 
a  way  pleasant  to  the  natural  mind,  there  may  be 


340 

danger  of  the  worldly  wisdom  gaining  strength  in 
them,  and  of  their  departure  from  that  pure  feeling 
of  truth,  which,  if  faithfully  attended  to,  would 
teach  contentment  in  the  Divine  will,  even  in  a  very 
low  estate. 

One  formerly  speaking  on  the  profitableness  of 
true  humility,  saith,  fc  He  that  troubles  not  himself 
with  anxious  thoughts  for  more  than  is  necessary, 
lives  little  less  than  the  life  of  angels  ;  whilst,  by  a 
mind  content  with  little,  he  imitates  their  want  of 
nothing/' — Cave's  Primitive  Christianity,  p.  31. 

"  It  is  not  enough,  saysTertullian,  that  a  Christian 
be  chaste  and  modest,  but  he  must  appear  to  be  so : 
a  virtue  of  which  he  should  have  so  great  a  store, 
that  it  should  flow  from  his  mind  upon  his  habit, 
and  break  from  the  retirements  of  his  conscience, 
into  the  superficies  of  his  life/' — Ibid.  p.  43. 

Cf  The  garments  we  wear,  says  Clemens,  ought  to 
be  mean  and  frugal.  That  is  true  simplicity  of 
habit,  which  takes  away  what  is  vain  and  super 
fluous  ;  that  the  best  and  most  solid  garment,  which 
is  the  farthest  from  curiosity/' — Ibid,  p.  49. 

Though  the  change  from  day  to  night  is  by  a 
motion  so  gradual  as  scarcely  to  be  perceived,  yet 
when  night  is  come,  we  behold  it  very  different  from 
the  day  ;  and  thus,  as  people  become  wise  in  their 
own  eyes,  and  prudent  in  their  own  sight,  customs 
rise  up  from  the  spirit  of  this  world,  and  spread,  by 
little  and  'little,  till  a  departure  from  the  simplicity 
that  there  is  in  Christ,  becomes  as  distinguishable  as 
light  from  darkness,  to  such  as  are  crucified  to  the 
world. 


341 

Our  holy  Shepherd,  to  encourage  his  flock  in 
firmness  and  perseverance,  reminds  them  of  his  love 
for  them.  (<  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have 
I  loved  you;  continue  ye  in  my  love;"  and,  in 
another  place  graciously  points  out  the  danger  of 
departing  therefrom,  by  going  into  unsuitable  em 
ployments.  This  he  represents  in  the  similitude  of 
offence  from  that  useful,  active  member,  the  hand  ; 
and,  to  fix  the  instruction  the  deeper,  names  the 
right  hand  :  (C  If  thy  right  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it 
off,  and  cast  it  from  thee."  If  thou  feelest  offence 
in  thy  employment,  humbly  follow  him  who  leads 
into  all  truth,  and  is  a  strong  and  faithful  friend  to 
those  who  are  resigned  to  him. 

Again,  he  points  out  those  things  which,  appear 
ing  pleasant  to  the  natural  mind,  are  not  best  for 
us,  in  the  similitude  of  offence  from  the  eye,  f(  If 
thy  right  eye  offend  thee  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it 
from  thee/3  To  pluck  out  the  eye,  or  cut  off  the 
hand,  is  attended  with  sharp  pain;  and  how  pre 
cious  is  the  instruction  which  our  Redeemer  thus 
opens  to  us,  that  we  may  not  faint  under  the  most 
painful  trials,  but  put  our  trust  in  Him,  even  in  Him 
who  sent  an  angel  to  feed  Elijah  in  the  wilderness, 
who  fed  a  multitude  with  a  few  barley  loaves,  and 
is  now  as  attentive  to  the  wants  of  his  people  as 
ever. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  represents  the  unrighteous 
doings  of  the  Israelites  toward  the  poor,  as  the  fruits 
of  an  effeminate  life :  "  As  for  my  people,  children 
are  their  oppressors,  and  women  rule  over  them  ; 
what  mean  ye  that  ye  beat  my  people  to  pieces, 


342 

and  grind  the  faces  of  the  poor,  saith  the  Lord  God/' 
Then  he  mentions  the  haughtiness  of  the  daughters 
of  Sion,  and  enumerates  many  ornaments  as  in 
stances  of  their  vanity.,  to  uphold  which  the  poor 
were  so  hardly  dealt  with.,  that  he  sets  forth  their 
poverty,  their  leanness,  and  inability  to  help  them 
selves,  in  the  similitude  of  a  man  maimed  by  vio 
lence,  or  "  beaten  to  pieces/'  and  forced  to  endure 
the  painful  operation  of  having  his  face  gradually 
worn  away  in  the  manner  of  grinding. 

And  I  may  here  add  that,  at  times,  when  I  have 
felt  true  love  open  my  heart  towards  my  fellow- 
creatures,  and  been  engaged  in  weighty  conversation 
in  the  cause  of  righteousness,  the  instructions  I  have 
received  under  these  exercises,  in  regard  to  the  true 
use  of  the  outward  gifts  of  God,  have  made  deep 
and  lasting  impressions  on  my  mind. 

I  have  here  beheld,  how  the  desire  to  provide 
wealth,  and  to  uphold  a  delicate  life,  hath  griev 
ously  entangled  many,  and  been  like  snares  to  their 
offspring  ;  and  though  some  have  been  affected  with 
a  sense  of  their  difficulties,  and  appeared  desirous, 
at  times,  to  be  helped  out  of  them ;  yet,  for  want  of 
abiding  under  the  humbling  power  of  truth,  they 
have  continued  in  these  entanglements ;  for,  in 
remaining  conformable  to  this  world,  and  giving 
way  to  a  delicate  life,  this  expensive  way  of  living, 
in  parents  and  in  children,  hath  called  for  a  large 
supply,  and,  in  answering  this  call,  "  the  faces  of 
the  poor"  have  been  ground  away,  and  made  thin 
through  hard  dealing. 

There  is  balm  !  there  is  a  physician  !  and  O,  what 


343 

longings  do  I  feel,  that  we  may  embrace  the  means 
appointed  for  our  healing;  know  that  removed 
which  now  ministers  cause  for  the  cries  of  many 
people  to  ascend  to  heaven  against  their  oppressors ; 
and  that  we  may  see  the  true  harmony  restored  ! 

Behold  "  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for 
brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity."  The  nature 
of  this  unity  is  thus  opened  by  the  apostle ;  "  If  we 
walk  in  the  light,,  as  Christ  is  in  the  light,,  we  shall 
have  fellowship  one  with  another,,  and  the  blood  of 
Christ  will  cleanse  us  from  all  sin/' 

The  land  may  be  polluted  with  innocent  blood, 
which,  like  the  blood  of  Abel,  may  cry  to  the  Al 
mighty  ;  but  those  who  "  walk  in  the  light,  as  Christ 
is  in  the  light/'  they  know  the  "  Lamb  of  God,  who 
taketh  away  sin." 

Walking  is  a  phrase  frequently  used  in  Scripture, 
to  represent  our  journey  through  life,  and  appears 
to  comprehend  the  various  affairs  and  transactions 
properly  relating  to  our  being  in  this  world. 

Christ  being  the  light,  dwells  always  in  the  light; 
and,  if  our  walking  be  thus,  arid  in  every  affair  and 
concern  we  faithfully  follow  this  divine  Leader;  he 
preserves  from  giving  just  cause  for  any  to  quarrel 
with  us.  Where  this  foundation  is  laid  and  mu 
tually  kept  to,  by  families  conversant  with  each 
other,  the  way  is  open  for  these  comforts  in  society, 
which  our  heavenly  Father  intends  as  a  part  of  our 
happiness  in  this  world  ;  and  then  we  may  experi 
ence  the  goodness  and  pleasa-itness  of  dwelling 
together  in  unity  ;  but  where  ways  of  living  take 
place,  which  tend  to  oppression,  and  in  the  pursuit 


344 

of  wealth,,  people  do  that  to  others  which  they  know 
would  not  be  acceptable  to  themselves,  either  in 
exercising  an  absolute  power  over  them,  or  other-^ 
wise  laying  on  them  unequitable  burdens ;  here  a 
fear  lest  that  measure  should  be  meted  to  them, 
which  they  have  measured  to  others,  incites  a  care 
to  support  that  by  craft  and  cunning  devices  which 
stands  not  on  the  firm  foundation  of  righteousness : 
thus  the  harmony  of  society  is  broken,  and  from 
hence  commotions  and  wars  do  frequently  arise  in 
the  world. 

tf  Come  out  of  Babylon,  my  people,  that  ye 
be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  arid  that  ye  receive  not 
of  her  plagues.'' — Rev.  xv.  3,  4.  This  Babel,  or 
Babylon,  was  built  in  the  spirit  of  self-exaltation  : 
"  Let  us  build  us  a  city  and  a  tower,  whose  top  may 
reach  to  heaven,  and  let  us  make  us  a  name/' — 
Gen.  xi.  4.  In  departing  from  an  humble  trust  in 
God,  and  following  a  selfish  spirit,  people  have  in 
tentions  to  get  the  upper  hand  of  their  fellow- 
creatures,  privately  meditate  on  means  to  obtain 
their  ends,  and  have  a  language  in  their  hearts 
which  is  hard  to  understand.  In  Babel  the  language 
is  confounded. 

This  city  is  represented  as  a  place  of  business,, 
and  those  employed  in  it  as  merchants  of  the  earth : 
ff  The  merchants  of  the  earth  are  waxed  rich, 
through  the  abundance  of  her  delicacies.' *  Rev. 
xviii.  3. 

And  it  is  remarkable  in  this  call,  that  the  lan 
guage  from  the  Father  of  Mercies,  is,  cf  Come 
out  of  Babylon,  my  people !"  Thus.,  his  tender 


345 

mercies  are  toward  us  in  an  imperfect  state  ;  and, 
as  we  faithfully  attend  to  the  call,  the  path  of 
righteousness  is  more  and  more  opened  ;  cravings, 
which  have  not  their  foundation  in  pare  wisdom, 
more  and  more  cease;  and  in  an  inward  purity  of 
heart,  we  experience  a  restoration  of  that  which 
was  lost  at  Babel,  represented  by  the  inspired 
prophet  in  the  ((  returning  of  a  pure  language.1' 
Zeph.  iii.  9. 

Happy  for  them  who  humbly  attend  to  the  call, 
fl  Come  out  of  Babylon,  my  people  !"  For  though 
in  going  forth  we  may  meet  with  trials,  which  for 
a  time  may  be  painful,  yet,  as  we  bow  in  true 
humility,  and  continue  in  it,  an  evidence  is  felt  that 
God  only  is  wise ;  and  that  in  weaning  us  from  all 
that  is  selfish,  He  prepares  the  way  to  a  quiet  habi 
tation,  where  all  our  desires  are  bounded  by  his 
wisdom.  And  an  exercise  of  spirit  attends  rne,  that 
we  who  are  convinced  of  the  pure  leadings  of 
truth,  may  bow,  in  the  deepest  reverence,  and  so 
watchfully  regard  this  Leader,  that  many,  who  are 
grievously  entangled  in  a  wilderness  of  vain  cus 
toms,  may  look  upon  us  and  be  instructed.  And 
O  that  such  who  have  plenty  of  this  world's  goods, 
may  be  faithful  in  that  with  which  they  are  en 
trusted,  and  example  others  in  the  true  Christian 
walking ! 

Our  blessed  Saviour,  speaking  on  worldly  great 
ness,  compares  himself  to  one  waiting  and  attending 
on  a  company  at  dinner :  fc  Whether  is  greater,  he 
that  sitteth  at  meat,  or  he  that  serveth  ?  Is  not  lit? 


346 

that  sitteth  at  meat  ?  but  I  am  amongst  you  as  he 
that  serveth."  Luke  xxii.  27. 

Thus,  in  a  world  greatly  disordered,  where  men 
aspiring  to  outward  greatness  were  wont  to  oppress 
others  to  support  their  designs,  he  who  was  of  the 
highest  descent,  being  the  Son  of  God,  and  greater 
than  any  amongst  the  greatest  families  of  men,  by  his 
example  and  doctrines,  foreclosed  his  followers  from 
claiming  any  show  of  outward  greatness,  from  any 
supposed  superiority  in  themselves  or  derived  from 
their  ancestors. 

He  who  was  greater  than  earthly  princes,  was 
not  only  meek  and  low  of  heart ;  but  his  outward 
appearance  was  plain  and  lowly,  and  free  from 
every  stain  of  the  spirit  of  this  world. 

Such  was  the  example  of  our  blessed  Redeemer, 
of  whom  the  beloved  disciple  said,  "  He  that  saith, 
he  abideth  in  Him,  ought  also  to  walk,  even  as  he 
walked." 

John  Bradford,  who  suffered  martyrdom  under 
queen  Mary,  wrote  a  letter  to  his  friends  out  of 
prison,  a  short  time  before  he  was  burnt,  in  which 
are  these  expressions  J^t  Consider  your  dignity  as 
children  of  God  and  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  members  of  Christ ;  be  ashamed  therefore  to 
think,  speak,  or  do  any  thing  unseemly,  for  God's 
children  and  the  members  of  Christ.5*  Fox's  Acts 
and  Monuments,  p.  1177. 


34? 

CHAP.  II. 

On  the  Example  of  Christ. 

As  my  mind  hath  been  brought  into  a  brotherly 
feeling-  with  the  poor,  as  to  the  things  of  this  life, 
who  are  under  trials,  in  regard  to  getting  a  living, 
in  a  way  answerable  to  the  purity  of  truth ;  a  labour 
of  heart  hath  attended  me,  that  their  way  may  not  be 
made  difficult,  through  the  love  of  money,  in  those 
who  are  tried  with  plentiful  estates ;  but  that  they 
with  tenderness  of  heart  may  sympathize  with 
them. 

It  was  the  saying  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  "  Ye 
cannot  serve  God  and  Mammon/'  There  is  a  deep 
feeling  of  the  way  of  purity,  a  way  in  which  the 
wisdom  of  the  world  hath  no  part,  but  is  opened  by 
the  spirit  of  truth,  and  is  ff  called  the  way  of  holi 
ness/'  a  way  in  which  the  traveller  is  employed  in 
watching  unto  prayer ;  and  the  outward  gain  we 
get  in  this  journey  is  considered  as  a  trust  committed 
to  us,  by  HIM  who  formed  and  supports  the  world  ; 
and  is  the  rightful  director  of  the  use  and  applica 
tion  of  the  product  of  it. 

Now,  except  the  mind  be  preserved  chaste,  there 
is  no  safety  for  us  ;  but  in  an  estrangement  from 
true  resignation,  the  spirit  of  the  world  casts  up  a 
way,  in  which  gain  is  many  times  principally  at 
tended  to,  and  in  which  there  is  a  selfish  application 
of  outward  treasures. 


348 

How  agreeable  to  the  true  harmony  of  society,  is 
that  exhortation  of  the  apostle;  "  Look  not  every 
man  on  his  own  things,  but  every  man  also  on  the 
things  of  others.  Let  this  mind  be  in  you  which 
was  also  in  Christ  Jesus. ". 

A  person  in  outward  prosperity  may  have  the 
power  of  obtaining  riches,,  but  the  same  mind  being 
in  him  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  he  may  feel  a  ten 
derness  of  heart  towards  those  of  low  degree  ;  and 
instead  of  setting  himself  above  them,  may  look 
upon  it  as  an  unmerited  favour,  that  his  way  through 
life  is  more  easy  than  the  way  of  many  others  ; 
may  improve  every  opportunity  of  leading  forlh 
out  of  those  customs  which  have  entangled  the 
family  ;  employ  his  time  in  looking  into  the  wants 
of  the  poor  members,  and  hold  forth  such  a  perfect 
cxamplevof  humiliation,  that  the  pure  witness  may 
be  reached  in  many  minds  ;  and  the  way  opened 
for  a  harmonious  walking  together. 

Jesus  Christ,  in  promoting  the  happiness  of  others, 
was  not  deficient  in  looking  for  the  helpless,  who 
lay  in  obscurity,  nor  did  he  save  any  thing  to  ren 
der  himself  honourable  amongst  men,  which  might 
have  been  of  more  use  to  the  weak  members  in  his 
Father's  family;  of  whose  compassion  towards  us  I 
may  now  speak  a  little.  He  who  was  perfectly  happy 
in  himself,  moved  with  infinite  love,  "took not  upon 
him  the  nature  of  angels,"  but  our  imperfect  nature, 
and  therein  wrestled  with  the  temptations  which 
attend  us  in  this  life ;  and  being  the  Son  of  HIM 
who  is  greater  than  earthly  princes,  yet  became  a 
companion  to  poor,  sincere-hearted  men ;  and 


349 

though  he  gave  the  clearest  evidence  that  divine 
power  attended  him,  yet  the  most  unfavourable 
constructions  were  framed  by  a  self-righteous  peo 
ple  ;  those  miracles  represented  as  the  effect  of  a 
diabolical  power,  and  endeavours  used  to  render 
him  hateful,  as  having  his  mission  from  the  prince 
of  darkness ;  nor  did  their  envy  cease  till  they  took 
him  like  a  criminal  and  brought  him  to  trial. 
Though  some  may  affect  to  carry  the  appearance  of 
being  unmoved  at  the  apprehension  of  distress,  our 
dear  Redeemer.,  who  was  perfectly  sincere,  having 
the  same  human  nature  which  we  have,  and  feeling, 
a  little  before  he  was  apprehended,  the  weight  of 
that  work  upon  him,  for  which  he  came  into  the 
world,  was  Cf  sorrowful,  even  unto  death."  Here  the 
human  nature  struggled  to  be  excused  from  a  cup 
so  bitter;  but  his  prayers  centered  in  resignation, 
"  Not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done/'  In  this  conflict, 
so  great  was  his  agony,  that  "  sweat  like  drops  of 
blood  fell  from  him  to  the  ground." 

Behold  now,  as  foretold  by  the  prophet,  he  is  in 
a  judicial  manner  "numbered  with  the  transgres 
sors."  Behold  him,  as  some  poor  man,  of  no  repu 
tation,  standing  before  the  high  priest  and  elders, 
and  before  Herod  and  Pilate,  where  witnesses  ap 
pear  against  him,  and  he,  mindful  of  the  most  gra 
cious  design  of  his  coming,  declineth  to  plead  in  his 
own  defence,  f<  but  as  a  sheep  that  is  dumb  before 
his  shearer,"  so,  under  many  accusations,  revilings, 
and  buffetings,  remained  silent.  And  though  he 
signified  to  Peter  that  he  had  access  to  power  suffi 
cient  to  overthrow  all  their  outward  forces ;  yet, 


350 

retaining  a  resignation  to  suffer  for  the  sins  of  man 
kind,,  he  exerted  not  that  power,  but  permitted 
them  to  go  on  in  their  malicious  designs,,  and  pro 
nounce  him  to  be  worthy  of  death,  even  him  who 
was  perfect  in  goodness;  thus  "in  his  humiliation 
his  judgment  was  taken  away/'  and  he,  like  some 
vile  criminal,  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter."  Un 
der  these  heavy  trials  (though  poor  unstable  Pilate 
was  convinced  of  his  innocence,  yet)  the  people 
generally  looked  upon  him  as  a  deceiver,  a  blas 
phemer,  and  the  approaching  punishment  as  a  just 
judgment  upon  him,  "  They  esteemed  him  smitten 
of  God,  and  afflicted."  So  great  had  been  the  sur 
prise  of  his  disciples,  at  his  being  taken  by  armed 
men,  that  they  "  forsook  him  and  fled  ;"  thus  they 
hid  their  faces  from  him,  he  was  despised,  and  by 
their  conduct  it  appeared  as  though  "  they  esteemed 
him  not." 

But  contrary  to  that  opinion,  of  his  being  smitten 
of  God  and  afflicted,  it  was  for  our  sakes  that  "he 
was  put  to  grief;  he  was  wounded  for  our  trans 
gressions  ;  he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  ;"  and, 
under  the  weight  of  them,  manifesting  the  deepest 
compassion  for  the  instruments  of  his  misery,  la 
boured  as  their  advocate,  and  in  the  deeps  of  afflict 
ion,  with  an  unconquerable  patience,  cried  out, 
"  Father  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they 
do!" 

Now,  this  mind  being  in  us,  which  was  in  Christ 
Jesus,  it  removes  from  our  hearts  the  desire  of  su 
periority,  worldly  honour,  or  greatness  ;  a  deep  at 
tention  is  felt  to  the  divine  counsellor,  and  an  ardent 


351 

engagement  to  promote,  as  far  as  we  may  be  ena 
bled,  the  happiness  of  mankind  universally.  This 
state,  where  every  motion  from  a  selfish  spirit  yield- 
eth  to  pure  love,  I  may,  with  gratitude  to  the  Fa 
ther  of  mercies,  acknowledge,  is  often  opened  before 
me  as  a  pearl  to  dig  after*;  attended  with  a  living 
concern,  that  amongst  the  many  nations  and  fami 
lies  on  the  earth,  those  who  believe  in  the  Messiah, 
that c '  he  was  manifested  to  destroy  the  works  of  the 
Devil,"  and  thus  to  "  take  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,"  may  experience  the  will  of  our  heavenly 
Father,  fc  may  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven." 
Strong  are  the  desires  I  often  feel,  that  this  holy 
profession  may  remain  unpolluted,  and  the  believers 
in  Christ  may  so  abide  in  the  pure,  inward,  feeling 
of  his  spirit,  that  the  wisdom  from  above  may  shine 
forth  in  their  living,  as  a  light  by  which  others  may 
be  instrumentally  helped  on  their  way,  in  the  true 
harmonious  walking. 


CHAP.  III. 

On  Merchandizing. 

WHERE  the  treasures  of  pure  love  are  opened, 
and  we  obediently  follow  him  who  is  the  light  of  life, 
the  mind  becomes  chaste  ;  and  a  care  is  felt,  that 
the  unction  from  the  holy  one  may  be  our  leader  in 
every  undertaking. 

In  being  crucified  to  the  world,  broken  off  from 


352 

that  friendship  which  is  enmity  with  God,  and  dead 
to  the  customs  and  fashions  which  have  not  their 
foundation  in  the  truth  ;  the  way  is  prepared  to 
lowliness  in  outward  living',  and  to  a  disentangle^ 
ment  from  those  snares  which  attend  the  love  of 
money;  and  where  the  faithful  friends  of  Christ  are  so 
situated  that  merchandize  appears  to  be  their  duty, 
they  feel  a  restraint  from  proceeding  farther  than 
he  owns  their  proceeding ;  being  convinced  that 
(C  we  are  pot  our  own  but  are  bought  with  a  price, 
lhat  none  of  us  may  live  to  ourselves,  but  to  him 
who  died  for  us."  2  Cor.  v.  15.  Thus  they  are 
taught,  not  only  to  keep  to  a  moderate  advance  and 
uprightness  in  their  dealings  ;  but  to  consider  the 
tendency  of  their  proceeding;  to  do  nothing  which 
they  know  would  operate  against  the  cause  of  uni 
versal  righteousness;  and  to  keep  continually  in 
view  the  spreading  of  the  peaceable  kingdom  of 
Christ  amongst  mankind. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  spake  of  the  gathered  church, 
in  the  similitude  of  a  city,  where  many  being  em 
ployed  were  all  preserved  in  purity  ;  "  They  shall 
call  them  the  holy  people ;  the  redeemed  of  the 
Lord,  and  thon  shall  be  called  sought  out,  a  city  not 
forsaken."  Ixiii.  10.  And  the  apostle,  after  men 
tioning  the  mystery  of  Christ's  sufferings,  exhorts, 
<e  Be  ye  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation/'  1  Pet. 
i.  15.  There  is  a  conversation  necessary  in  trade; 
and  there  ,is  a  conversation  so  foreign  from  the 
nature  of  Christ's  kingdom,  that  it  is  represented  in 
the  similitude  of  one  man  pushing  another  with  a 
warlike  weapon  ;  (<  There  is  that  speaketh  like  the 


353 

piercings  of  a  sword/'  Prov.  xii.  18.  Now  in  all 
our  concerns  it  is  necessary  that  the  leading  of  the 
spirit  of  Christ  be  humbly  waited  for  and  faithfully 
followed,  as  the  only  means  of  being  preserved 
chaste  as  an  holy  people,,  who  (<  in  all  things  are 
circumspect/'  Exod.  xxiii.  13.,  that  nothing  we  do 
may  carry  the  appearance  of  approbation  of  the 
works  of  wickedness,,  make  the  unrighteous  more  at 
ease  in  unrighteousness,  or  occasion  the  injuries 
committed  against  the  oppressed  to  be  more  lightly 
looked  over. 

Where  morality  is  kept  to,  and  supported  by  the 
inhabitants  of  a  country,  there  is  a  certain  reproach 
attends  those  individuals  amongst  them,  who  mani 
festly  deviate  therefrom.  Thus,  if  a  person  of 
good  report,  is  charged  with  stealing  goods  out  of 
an  open  shop  in  the  day  time,,  and,  on  a  public  trial, 
found  guilty,  and  the  law  in  that  case  put  in  execu 
tion,  he  therein  sustains  a  loss  of  reputation  ;  but 
if  he  be  convicted  a  second  and  third  time  of  the 
like  offence,  his  good  name  would  cease  amongst 
such  who  knew  these  things.  If  his  neighbour,  re 
puted  an  honest  man,  be  charged  with  buying  goods 
of  this  thief,  at  a  time  when  the  purchaser  knew 
they  were  stolen,  and  on  a  public  trial  be  found 
guilty,  this  purchaser  would  meet  with  disesteem, 
but  if  he  persisted  in  buying  stolen  goods,  knowing 
them  to  be  such,  and  was  publicly  convicted  thereof 
a  second  and  third  time,  he  would  no  longer  be 
considered  as  an  honest  man  by  those  who  knew 
these  things ;  nor  would  it  appear  of  good  report, 
to  be  found  in  his  company,  buying  his  traffic,  till 

z 


sw 

some  evident  tokens  of  sincere  repentance  appeared 
in  him.     But  where  iniquity  is  committed  openly., 
and  the  authors  of  it  are  not  brought  to  justice,  nor 
put  to  shame,,  their  hands  grow  strong.     Thus,  the 
general  corruption  of  the  Jews,  shortly  before  their 
state  was  broken  up  by  the  Chaldeans,  is  described 
by  their  boldness  in  impiety ;  for  as  their  leaders 
were    connected     together     in    wickedness,    they 
strengthened   one   another,   and    grew   confident, 
"Were  they  ashamed  when  they  had  committed 
abominations  ?  nay,  they  were  not  at  all  ashamed, 
neither  could  they  blush;"    Jer.  vi.  15,  on  which 
account  the    Lord   thus    expostulates  with  them, 
fc  What  hath  my  beloved  to  do  in  my  house,  seeing 
she  hath  wrought  lewdness  with  many  ?  and  the  holy 
flesh  is  passed  from  thee,  when  thou  doest  evil,  then 
thou  rejoicest."     Jer.  xi.  15. 

Now,  the  faithful  friends  of  Christ,  who  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness,  and  inwardly  breathe 
that  his  kingdom  may  come  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven,  he  teacheth  them  to  be  quick  of  understand 
ing  in  his  fear,  and  to  be  very  attentive  to  the  means 
he  may  appoint  for  promoting  pure  righteousness 
in  the  earth  ;  and,  as  shame  is  due  to  those  whose 
works  manifestly  operate  against  the  gracious  de 
sign  of  his  sufferings  for  us,  a  care  lives  on  their 
minds  that  no  wrong  customs,  however  supported, 
may  bias  their  judgments;  but  that  they  may  hum 
bly  abide  under  the  cross  and  be  preserved  in  a 
conduct  which  may  not  contribute  to  strengthen  the 
hands  of  the  wicked  in  their  wickedness,  or  to  re 
move  shame  from  those  to  whom  it  is  justly  due. 


355 

The  coming  of  that  day  is  precious  in  which  we  ex 
perience  the  truth  of  this  expression,  ff  The  Lord 
our  righteousness  ;"  Jer.  xiii.  6,  and  feel  him  to  be 
"made. unto  us  wisdom  and  sanetifieation." 

The  example  of  a  righteous  man  is  often  looked 
at  with  attention.  Where  righteous  men  join  in 
business.,  their  company  gives  encouragement  to 
others ;  as  one  grain  of  incense  deliberately  of 
fered  to  the  prince  of  this  world,,  renders  an  offering 
to  God  in  that  state  unacceptable ;  and  from  those 
esteemed  leaders  of  the  people  may  be  injurious  to 
the  weak ;  it  requires  deep  humility  of  heart,  to 
follow  him  faithfully,  who  alone  gives  sound  wis 
dom  and  the  spirit  of  true  discerning ;  and  O  how 
necessary  it  is,  to  consider  the  weight  of  a  holy  pro 
fession  ! 

The  conduct  of  some  formerly,  gave  occasion  of 
complaint  against  them,  "Thou  hast  defiled  thy 
sanctuaries  by  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquities,  by 
the  iniquity  of  thy  traffic  ;"  Ezek.  xxviii.  18;  and 
in  several  places  it  is  charged  against  Israel  that 
they  had  polluted  the  holy  name. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  represents  inward  sanctifica- 
tion  in  the  similitude  of  being  purged  from  that 
which  is  fuel  for  fire;  and  particularly  describes 
the  outward  fruits,  brought  forth  by  those  who  dwell 
in  this  inward  holiness ;  "  they  walk  righteously, 
and  speak  uprightly/'  By  walking,  he  represents 
the  journey  through  life,  as  a  righteous  journey; 
and  "by  speaking  uprightly/'  seems  to  point  at 
that  which  Moses  appears  to  have  had  in  view, 
when  he  thus  expressed  himself,  "  Thou  shalt  not 


350 

follow  a  multitude  to  do  evil,  nor  speak  in  a  ease  to 
decline  after  manyto  wrest  judgment/'  Exod.  xxiii.2. 
He  goes  on  to  show  their  firmness  in  equity  ;  re 
presenting  them  as  persons  superior  to  all  the  arts 
of  getting  money,  which  have  riot  righteousness  for 
their  foundation  ;  "  They  despise  the  gain  of  op 
pressions  :"  and  further  shows  how  careful  they  are 
that  no  prospects  of  gain  may  induce  them  to  be 
come  partial  in  judgment  respecting  an  injury  ; 
ff  They  shake  their  hands  from  holding  bribes." 

Again,  where  any  interest  is  so  connected  with 
shedding  blood,  that  the  cry  of  innocent  blood  goes 
also  with  it ;  he  points  out  their  care  to  keep  inno 
cent  blood  from  crying  against  them,  in  the  simili 
tude  of  a  man  stopping  his  ears  to  prevent  a  sound 
from  entering  his  head,  "  They  stop  their  ears  from 
hearing  blood  ;"  and  where  they  know  that  wicked 
ness  is  committed,  he  points  out  with  care,  that 
they  do  not  by  an  unguarded  friendship  with  the 
authors  of  it,  appear  like  unconcerned  lookers  on, 
but  as  people  so  deeply  affected  with  sorrow,  that 
they  cannot  endure  to  stand  by  and  behold  it ;  this 
he  represents  in  the  similitude  of  a  man  ec  shutting 
his  eyes  from  seeing  evil." 

"  Who  amongst  us  shall  dwell  with  the  devour 
ing  fire?  Who  amongst  us  shall  dwell  with  ever 
lasting  burnings?  He  that  walketh  righteously 
and  speaketh  uprightly.  He  that  despiseth  the  gain 
of  oppressions,  that  shaketh  his  hands  from  holding 
of  bribes,  that  stoppeth  his  ears  from  hearing  of 
blood,  and  shutteth  his  eyes  from  seeing  evil." — 
Isaiah  xxxiii.  14,  15. 


357 

He  proceeds,  in  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  to  show 
how  the  faithful,  being  supported  under  tempta 
tions,  would  be  preserved  from  that  defilement  that 
there  is  in  the  love  of  money ;  that,  as  they  who  in 
a  reverent  waiting  on  God,  feel  their  strength  re 
newed,  are  said  to  cc  mount  upward ;"  so,  here,  their 
preservation  from  the  snare  of  unrighteous  gain  is 
represented  in  the  likeness  of  a  man,  borne  up 
above  all  crafty,  artful,  means  of  getting  the  advan 
tage  of  another,  "He  shall  dwell  on  high";  and 
points  out  the  stability  and  firmness  of  their  condi 
tion,  "  His  place  of  defence  shall  be  the  munition 
of  rocks  ;"  and  that,  under  all  the  outward  appear 
ances  of  Joss,  in  denying  himself  of  gainful  profits, 
for  righteousness' sake,  yet  through  the  care  of  Him 
who  provides  for  the  sparrows,  he  should  have  a 
supply  answerable  to  his  infinite  wisdom,  Cf  Bread 
shall  be  given  him,  his  waters  shall  be  sure/*  And, 
as  our  Saviour  mentions  the  sight  of  God  to  be  at 
tainable  by  Cf  the  pure  in  heart/'  so  here  the  pro 
phet  pointed  out,  how,  in  true  sanctification,  the 
understanding  is  opened,  to  behold  the  peaceable, 
harmonious,  nature  of  his  kingdom,  cc  Thine  eyes 
shall  see  the  king  in  his  beauty  ;"  and  that  looking 
beyond  all  the  afflictions  which  attend  the  righte 
ous,  to  "  a  habitation  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  they 
with  an  eye  divinely  open  shall  behold  the  land 
that  is  very  far  off. 

"He  shall  dwell  on  high,  his  place  of  defence 
shall  be  the  munitions  of  rocks,  bread  shall  be 
given  him,  his  waters  shall  be  sure.  Thine  eyes 
shall  see  the  king  in  his  beauty;  they  shall  be- 


358 

hold  the  land  that  is  very  far  off."     Isaiah  xxxiii. 
16,  17. 

I  often  remember,  and  to  rne  the  subject  is  awful, 
that  the  great  judge  of  all  the  earth  doeth  that 
which  is  right,  and  that  He  <(  before  whom  the  na 
tions  are  as  the  drop  of  a  bucket/'  is  "  no  respecter 
of  persons."  Happy  for  them,  who  like  the  in 
spired  prophet,  fc  in  the  way  of  his  judgments,  wait 
tor  Him."  Isaiah  xxvi.  8. 

When  we  feel  Him  to  sit  as  a  refiner  with  fire,  and 
know  a  resignedness  wrought  in  us,  to  that  which 
He  appoints  for  us,  his  blessing  in  a  very  low  estate, 
is  found  to  be  more  precious  than  much  outward 
treasure  in  those  ways  of  life,  where  the  leadings  of 
his  spirit  are  not  followed. 

The  prophet,  in  a  sight  of  a  divine  work  amongst 
many  people,  declared  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
"  1  will  gather  all  nations  and  tongues,  and  they 
shall  come  and  see  my  glory."  Isaiah  Ixvi.  18. 
And  again,  "  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  to  the  going 
down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall  be  great  amongst 
the  Gentiles,  and  in  every  place  incense  shall  be 
offered  to  my  name,  and  a  pure  offering."  Malachi 
i.  11. 

Behold  here  how  the  prophets  had  an  inward 
sense  of  the  spreading  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  ; 
and  how  He  was  spoken  of  as  one  who  should 
C(  take  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  utter 
most  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession."  Psal. 
ii.  8.  That  "  He  was  given  for  a  light  to  the  Gen 
tiles  ;  and  for  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth," 
Isaiah  xlix,  6, 


359 

When  we  meditate  on  this  divine  work,  as  a  work 
of  ages  :  a  work  which  the  prophets  felt  long-  before 
Christ  appeared  visibly  on  earth,,  and  remember  the 
bitter  agonies  he  endured  when  he  <c  poured  out  his 
soul  unto  death/'  that  the  heathen  nations  as  well 
as  others,  might  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth 
and  be  saved  ; — When  we  contemplate  on  this 
marvellous  work,,  as  that  which  "the  angels  desire 
to  look  into/'  1  Pet.  i.  12;  and  behold  people 
amongst  whom  this  light  hath  eminently  broken 
forth,  and  who  have  received  many  favours  from  the 
bountiful  hand  of  our  heavenly  Father ;  not  only 
indifferent  with  respect  to  publishing  the  glad  ti 
dings  amongst  the  Gentiles,  as  yet  sitting  in  dark 
ness  and  entangled  with  many  superstitions ;  but 
aspiring  after  wealth  and  worldly  honours,  take  hold 
of  means  to  obtain  their  ends,  tending  to  stir  up 
wrath  and  indignation  and  to  beget  an  abhorrence 
in  them  to  the  name  of  Christianity  ; — When  these 
things  are  weightily  attended  to,  how  mournful  is 
the  subject! 

It  is  worthy  of  remembrance,  that  people  in  dif 
ferent  ages,  deeply  baptized  into  the  nature  of  that 
work  for  which  Christ  suffered,  have  joyfully  offered 
up  their  liberty  and  lives  for  the  promoting  of  it  in 
the  earth. 

Polycarp,  who  was  reputed  a  disciple  of  the  apos 
tle  John,  having  attained  to  great  age,  was  at  length 
sentenced  to  die  for  his  religion  ;  and  being  brought 
to  the  tire,  prayed  nearly  as  follows,  "  Thou  God 
and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  I 
have  received  the  knowledge  of  thee!  O  God  of 


360 

the  angels  and  powers.,  and  of  every  living  creature,, 
and  of  all  sorts  of  just  men  which  live  in  thy  pre 
sence  ;  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  graciously 
vouchsafed  this  day  and  this  hour  to  allot  me  a 
portion  among  the  number  of  martyrs,  among  the 
people  of  Christ,,  unto  the  resurrection  of  everlast 
ing  life ;  among  whom  I  shall  be  received  in  thy 
sight,  this  day,  as  a  fruitful  and  acceptable  sacrifice; 
wherefore  for  all  this,  I  praise  thee,  I  bless  thee, 
I  glorify  thee,  through  the  everlasting  High-priest, 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  well  beloved  son  ;  to  whom,  with 
thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  all  glory,  world  with 
out  end.  Amen/' 

Bishop  Latimer,  when  sentence  of  death  by  fire, 
was  pronounced  against  him,  on  account  of  his 
firmness  in  the  cause  of  religion,  said,  t(  I  thank 
God  most  heartily  !  that  he  hath  prolonged  my  life 
to  this  end  ;  that  I  may,  in  this  case,  glorify  him  by 
this  kind  of  death/'  Fox's  Acts  and  Mori.  936. 

William  Dewsbury,  who  had  suffered  much  for 
his  religion,  in  his  last  sickness,  encouraging  his 
friends  to  faithfulness,  made  mention,  like  good  old 
Jacob,  of  the  loving  kindness  of  God  to  him  in  the 
course  of  his  life,  and  that  through  the  power  of 
divine  love,  he,  for  Christ's  sake,  had  joy  fully  entered 
prisons,  See  introduction  to  his  works. 

I  mention  these,  as  a  few  examples,  out  of  many, 
of  the  powerful  operation  of  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
where  people  are  fully  devoted  to  it,  and  of  the 
ardent  longings  in  their  minds  for  the  spreading  of 
his  kingdom  amongst  mankind.  Now  to  those  in 
the  present  age,  who  truly  know  Christ,  and  feel 


361 

the  nature  of  his  peaceable  government,  opened  in 
their  understandings,  how  loud  is  that  call  where 
with  we  are  called  to  faithfulness;  that  in  follow 
ing  this  pure  light  of  life,  "  we  as  workers  together 
with  him/'  may  labour  in  that  great  work  for  which 
he  was  offered  as  a  sacrifice  on  the  cross ;  and  that 
his  peaceable  doctrines  may  shine  through  us  in 
their  real  harmony,  at  a  time  when  the  name  of 
Christianity  is  become  hateful  to  many  of  the 
heathens. 

When  Gehazi  had  obtained  treasures,  which  the 
prophet,  under  divine  direction,  had  refused,  and 
was  returned  from  the  business  ;  the  prophet  trou 
bled  at  his  conduct,  queried  if  it  was  a  time  thus  to 
prepare  for  a  specious  living.  "  Is  it  a  time  to 
receive  money  and  garments,  men  servants  and 
maid  servants?  the  leprosy  therefore  of  Naaman 
shall  cleave  to  thee  and  to  thy  seed  for  ever."  2 
Kings  v.  26.  And  O  that  we  may  lay  to  heart  the 
condition  of  the  present  time  ;  and  humbly  follow 
his  counsel,  who  alone  is  able  to  prepare  the  way 
for  a  true  harmonious  walking  amongst  mankind  ! 


362 

CHAP.  IV. 

On  Divine  Admonitions. 

SUCH  are  the  perfections  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
that  in  all  the  dispensations  of  his  providence,  it  is  our 
duty, f{  in  every  thing,  to  give  thanks/5  Though  from 
the  first  settlement  of  this  part  of  America,  he  hath 
not  extended  his  judgments  to  the  degree  of  famine, 
yet  worms  at  times  have  come  forth  beyond  number 
ing,  and  laid  waste  fields  of  grain  and  grass,  where 
they  have  appeared;  another  kind,  in  great  multi 
tudes,  working  out  of  sight,  in  grass  ground,  have  so 
eaten  the  roots,  that  the  surface  being  loosened  from 
the  soil  beneath,  might  be  taken  off  in  great  sheets. 

These  kinds  of  devouring  creatures  appearing 
seldom,  and  coming  in  such  multitudes,  their  gene 
ration  appears  different  from  most  other  reptiles, 
and  by  the  prophet  were  called  (f  God's  army  sent 
amongst  the  people."  Joel  ii.  25. 

There  have  been  tempests  of  hail,  which  have 
very  much  destroyed  the  grain  where  they  ex 
tended.  Through  long  drought  in  summer,  grain 
in  some  places  hath  been  less  than  half  the  usual 
quantity  ;*  and  in  the  continuance  thereof,  I  have 
beheld  with  attention,  from  week  to  week,  how 
dry  ness  from  the  top  of  the  earth  hath  extended 
deeper  and  deeper,  while  the  corn  and  plants  have 

*  When  crops  fail,  I  often  feel  a  tender  care  that  the  case  of 
poor  tenants  may  be  mercifully  considered. 


263 

languished  ;  and,  with  reverence,  rny  mind  hath 
been  turned  toward  HIM,,  who  being  perfect  in 
goodness,  in  wisdom,  and  power,  doeth  all  things 
right.  And  after  long  drought,  when  the  sky  hath 
grown  dark  with  a  collection  of  matter,  and  clouds 
like  lakes  of  water  hung  over  our  heads,  from 
whence  the  thirsty  land  hath  been  soaked  ;  I  have 
at  times,  with  awfulness,  beheld  the  vehement 
operation  of  lightning,  made  sometimes  to  accom 
pany  these  blessings,  as  a  messenger  from  HIM  who 
created  all  things,  to  remind  us  of  our  duty  in  a 
right  use  of  those  benefits,  and  give  striking  ad 
monitions,  that  we  do  riot  misapply  those  gifts,  in 
which  an  Almighty  power  is  exerted,  in  bestowing 
them  upon  us. 

When  I  have  considered  that  many  of  our  fellow- 
creatures  suffer  much  in  some  places,  for  want  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  whilst  those  who  rule  over 
them  are  too  much  given  to  luxury,  and  divers 
vanities ;  and  behold  the  apparent  deviation  from 
pure  wisdom  amongst  us,  in  the  use  of  the  outward 
gifts  of  God  ;  those  marks  of  famine  have  appeared 
like  humbling  admonitions  from  Him,  that  we  might 
be  instructed  by  gentle  chastisements,  and  might 
seriously  consider  our  ways  ;  remembering  that  the 
outward  supply  of  life  is  a  gift  from  our  heavenly 
Father,  and  that  we  should  no  more  venture  to 
use,  or  apply  his  gifts,  in  a  way  contrary  to  pure 
wisdom. 

Should  we  continue  to  reject  those  merciful  ad 
monitions,  and  use  his  gifts  at  home,  contrary  to 
the  gracious  design  of  the  giver,  or  send  them  abroad 


in  a  way  of  trade,  which  the  spirit  of  truth  doth  not 
lead  into ;  and  should  He,  whose  eyes  are  upon 
all  our  ways.,  extend  his  chastisements  so  far  as  to 
reduce  us  to  much  greater  distress  than  hath  yet 
been  felt  by  these  provinces.,  with  what  sorrow  of 
heart  might  we  meditate  on  that  subject,  "  Hast 
thou  not  procured  this  unto  thyself,  in  that  thou 
hast  forsaken  the  Lord  thy  God,  when  He  led  thee 
by  the  way  ?  Thine  own  wickedness  shall  correct 
thee,,  and  thy  backslidings  shall  reprove  thee ;  know 
therefore  and  see,,  that  it  is  an  evil  thing  and  bitter, 
that  thou  hast  forsaken  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  that 
my  fear  is  not  in  thee,  saith  the  Lord  God  of  hosts." 
Jer.  ii.  17—19. 

My  mind  hath  often  been  affected  with  sorrow, 
in  beholding  a  wrong  application  of  the  gifts  of  our 
heavenly  Father;  and  those  expressions  concerning 
the  defilement  of  the  earth  have  been  opened  to  my 
understanding,  "  The  earth  was  corrupt  before  God, 
and  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence/'  Gen.vi.  1 1 . 
Again,  "  The  earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inha 
bitants  thereof,  because  they  have  broken  the 
everlasting  covenant."  Isaiah  xxiv.  5. 

The  earth  being  the  work  of  a  divine  power, 
may  not,  as  such,  be  accounted  unclean  ;  but  when 
violence  is  committed  thereon,  and  the  channel  of 
righteousness  so  obstructed,  that  "  in  our  skirts  are 
found  the  blood  of  the  souls  of  poor  innocents  ; 
not  by  a  secret  search,  but  upon  all  these." — 
Jerem.  ii.  34.*  When  blood,  shed  unrighteously, 

*  See  a  caution  and  warning  to  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies, 
page  31. 


365 

remains  unatoned  for,  and  the  inhabitants  are  not 
effectually  purged  from  it,  when  they  do  not  wash 
their  hands  in  innocency,  as  was  figured  in  the  law, 
in  the  case  of  one  being  found  slain  ;  but  seek  for 
gain  arising  from  scenes  of  violence  and  oppression, 
here  the  land  is  polluted  with  blood.  Deut. 
xxi.  6. 

Moreover,  when  the  earth  is  planted  and  tilled, 
and  the  fruits  brought  forth  are  applied  to  support 
unrighteous  purposes  ;  here  the  gracious  design  of 
infinite  goodness,  in  these  his  gifts,  being  perverted, 
the  earth  is  defiled ;  and  the  complaint  formerly 
uttered  becomes  applicable :  <f  Thou  hast  made  me 
to  serve  with  thy  sins ;  thou  hast  wearied  me  with 
thine  iniquities/'  Isaiah  xliii.  24. 


REMARKS 


ON 


SUNDRY    SUBJECTS. 

[First  printed  in  London,  1773.] 

CHAP.  I. 

On  loving  our  neighbours  as  ourselves. 

WHEN  we  love  the  Lord  with  all  our  hearts,  and 
his  creatures  in  his  love,,  we  are  then  preserved  in 
tenderness  both  toward  mankind  and  the  animal 
creation ;  but  if  another  spirit  gets  room  in  our 
minds,  and  we  follow  it  in  our  proceedings,  we  are 
then  in  the  way  of  disordering  the  affairs  of  society. 
People  may  have  no  intention  to  oppress,  yet  by 
entering  on  expensive  ways  of  life,  their  minds  may 
be  so  entangled  therein,  and  so  engaged  to  support 
expensive  customs,  as  to  be  estranged  from  the  pure, 
sympathizing  spirit. 

As  I  have  travelled  in  England,  I  have  had  a 
tender  feeling  of  the  condition  of  poor  people,  some 
of  whom,  though  honest  and  industrious,  have 
nothing  to  spare  toward  paying  for  the  schooling  of 
their  children. 

There  is  a  proportion  between  labour  and  the 
necessaries  of  life,  and  in  true  brotherly  love  the 
mind  is  open  to  feel  after  the  necessities  of  the  poor. 


367 

Amongst  the  poor  there  are  some  that  are  weak 
through  age,,  and  others  of  a  weakly  nature,  who 
pass  through  straits  in  very  private  life,  without 
asking  relief  from  the  public. 

Such  who  are  strong  and  healthy  may  do  that 
business,,  which  to  the  weakly  may  be  oppressive ; 
and  in  performing  that  in  a  day  which  is  esteemed 
a  day's  labour,  by  weakly  persons  in  the  field  and 
in  the  shops,  and  by  weakly  women  who  spin  and 
knit  in  the  manufactories,  they  often  pass  through 
weariness;  arid  many  sighs  I  believe  are  uttered 
in  secret,  unheard  by  some  who  might  ease  their 
burdens. 

Labour,  in  the  right  medium,  is  healthy ;  but  in 
too  much  of  it  there  is  a  painful  weariness :  and 
the  hardships  of  the  poor  are  sometimes  increased 
through  want  of  more  agreeable  nourishment,  more 
plentiful  fuel  for  the  fire,  and  warmer  clothing  in 
the  winter,  than  their  wages  will  answer. 

When  I  have  beheld  plenty  in  some  houses/  to  a 
degree  of  luxury;  the  condition  of  poor  children, 
brought  up  without  learning ;  and  the  condition  of 
the  weakly  and  aged,  who  strive  to  live  by  their 
labour ;  have  often  revived  in  my  mind,  as  cases  of 
which  some  who  live  in  fuluess  need  to  be  put  in 
remembrance. 

There  are  few,  if  any,  could  behold  their  fellow- 
creatures  lie  long  in  distress,  and  forbear  to  help 
them,  when  they  could  do  it  without  any  inconve 
nience;  but  customs  requiring  much  labour  to  sup 
port  them,  do  often  lie  heavy  on  the  poor,  while 
they  who  live  in  these  customs  are  so  entangled  in 


368 

a  multitude  of  unnecessary  concerns,  that  they 
think  but  little  of  the  hardships  which  the  poor 
people  go  through. 

If  a  man,  successful  in  business,  expends  part  of 
his  income  in  things  of  no  real  use,  while  the  poor 
employed  by  him  pass  through  great  difficulties  in 
getting  the  necessaries  of  life,  this  requires  his 
serious  attention. 

If  several  principal  men  in  business  unite  in  set 
ting  the  wages  of  those  who  work  for  hire,  and 
therein  have  regard  to  a  profit  to  themselves  answer 
able  to  unnecessary  expense  in  their  families,  while 
the  wages  of  the  others  on  a  moderate  industry  will 
not  afford  a  comfortable  living  for  their  families, 
and  a  proper  education  for  their  children  ;  this  is 
like  laying  a  temptation  in  the  way  of  some  to  strive 
for  a  place  higher  than  they  are  in,  when  they  have 
not  stock  sufficient  for  it. 

Now  I  feel  a  concern  in  the  spring  of  pure  love, 
that  all  who  have  plenty  of  outward  substance,  may 
example  others  in  the  right  use  of  things ;  may 
carefully  look  into  the  condition  of  poor  people, 
aud  beware  of  exacting  on  them  with  regard  to 
their  wages. 

While  hired  labourers,  by  moderate  industry, 
through  the  divine  blessing,  may  live  comfortably, 
raise  up  families,  and  give  them  suitable  education, 
it  appears  reasonable  for  them  to  be  content  with 
their  wages. 

If  they  who  have  plenty,  love  their  fellow- 
creatures  in  that  love  which  is  divine,  and  in  all 
their  proceedings  have  an  equal  regard  to  the  good 


369 

of  mankind  universally,  their  place  in  society  is  a 
place  of  care,,  an  office  requiring  attention;  and  the 
more  we  possess,  the  greater  is  our  trust,  and  with 
an  increase  of  treasure,  an  increase  of  care  becomes 
necessary. 

When  our  will  is  subject  to  the  will  of  God  ; 
and  in  relation  to  the  things  of  this  world,  we  have 
nothing  in  view  but  a  comfortable  living  equally 
with  the  rest  of  our  fellow-creatures,  then  outward 
treasures  are  no  farther  desirable  than  as  we  feel  a 
gift  in  'our  minds  equal  to  the  trust,  and  strength 
to  act  as  dutiful  children  in  his  service,  who  hath 
formed  all  mankind,  and  appointed  a  subsistence 
for  us  in  this  world. 

A  desire  of  treasures  on  any  other  motive,  appears 
to  be  against  that  command  of  our  blessed  Saviour, 
cf  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  on  earth.*' 
Matt.  vi.  19. 

He  forbids  not  laying  up  in  the  summer  against 
the  wants  of  winter ;  nor  doth  He  teach  us  to  be 
slothful  in  that  which  properly  relates  to  our  being 
in  this  world  ;  but  in  this  prohibition  He  puts  in 
yourselves:  (C  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
here  on  earth." 

Now,  in  the  pure  light,  this  language  is  under 
stood,  for  in  the  love  of  Christ  there  is  no  respect 
of  persons  ;  and  while  we  abide  in  his  love,  we  live 
not  to  ourselves,  but  to  Him  who  died  for  us. 
And  as  we  are  thus  united  in  spirit  to  Christ,  we 
are  engaged  to  labour  in  promoting  that  work  in 
the  earth  for  which  He  suffered. 

In  this  state  of  mind  our  desires  are,  that  every 

2A 


370 

honest  member  in  society  may  have  a  portion  of 
treasure,  and  share  of  trust,  answerable  to  that  gift, 
with  which  our  heavenly  Father  hath  gifted  us. 

In  great  treasure,  there  is  a  great  trust. 

A  great  trust  requireth  great  care. 

But  the  laborious  mind  wants  rest. 

A  pious  man  is  content  to  do  a  share  of  business 
in  society,  answerable  to  the  gifts  with  which  he  is 
endowed,  while  the  channels  of  business  are  free 
from  unrighteousness,  but  is  careful  lest  at  any  time 
his  heart  be  overcharged. 

In  the  harmonious  spirit  of  society,  "Christ  is  all 
in  all."  Col.  iii.  11. 

Here  it  is  that  te  old  things  are  past  away,  all 
things  are  new,  all  things  are  of  God."  2  Cor. 
v.  17,  18.  and  the  desire  for  outward  riches  is  at  an 
end. 

They  of  low  degree,  who  have  small  gifts,  enjoy 
their  help  who  have  large  gifts ;  those  with  their 
small  gifts,  have  a  small  degree  of  care.,  while  these 
with  their  large  gifts,  have  a  large  degree  of  care  : 
and  thus  to  abide  in  the  love  of  Christ,  and  enjoy  a 
comfortable  living  in  this  world,  is  all  that  is  aimed 
at  by  those  members  in  society,  to  whom  Christ  is 
made  wisdom  and  righteousness. 

But  when  they  who  have  much  treasure,  are  not 
faithful  stewards  of  the  gifts  of  God,  great  difficul 
ties  attend  it. 

Now  this  matter  hath  deeply  affected  my  mind. 
The  Lord,  through  merciful  chastisements,  hath 
given  me  a  feeling  of  that  love,  in  which  the  har 
mony  of  society  standeth,  and  a  sight  of  the  growth 


371 

of  that  seed  which  bringbth  forth  wars  and  great  ca 
lamities  in  the  world  ;  and  a  labour  attends  me  to 
open  it  to  others. 

Now  to  act  with,  integrity,  according  to  that 
strength  of  mind  and  body  with  which  our  Creator 
hath  endowed  each  of  us,  appears  necessary  for  all; 
and  he  who  thus  stands  in  the  lowest  station,  ap 
pears  to  be  entitled  to  as  comfortable  and  conveni 
ent  a  living,  as  he  whose  gifts  of  mind  are  greater, 
and  whose  cares  are  more  extensive. 

If  some  endowed  with  strong  understandings  as 
men,  abide  not  in  the  harmonious  state,  in  which 
we  "  love  our  neighbours  as  ourselves/'  but  walk  in 
that  spirit  in  which  the  children  of  this  world  are 
wise  in  their  generation  ;  these  by  the  strength  of 
contrivance  may  sometimes  gather  great  treasure, 
but  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  with 
God  ;  and  if  we  gather  treasures  in  worldly  wis 
dom,  we  lay  up  "treasures  for  ourselves;"  and 
great  treasures  managed  in  any  other  spirit  than 
the  spirit  of  truth,  disorder  the  affairs  of  society  ; 
for  hereby  the  good  gifts  of  God  in  this  outward 
creation  are  turned  into  the  channels  of  worldly 
honour,  and  frequently  applied  to  support  luxury, 
while  the  wages  of  poor  labourers  are  such,  that 
with  moderate  industry  and  frugality  they  may  not 
live  comfortably,  raise  up  families,  and  give  them 
suitable  education,  but  through  the  straitness  of 
their  condition,  are  often  drawn  on  to  labour  under 
weariness,  to  toil  through  hardships  themselves, 
and  frequently  to  oppress  those  useful  animals  with 
which  wre  are  entrusted. 


312 

Prom  age  to  age,  throughout  all  ages,  divine  love 
is  that  alone,  in  which  dominion  has  been,  is,  and 
will  be  rightly  conducted. 

In  this,  the  endowments  of  men  are  so  employed, 
that  the  friend  and  the  governor  are  united  in  one, 
and  oppressive  customs  come  to  an  end. 

Riches  in  the  hands  of  individuals  in  society,  are 
attended  with  some  degree  of  power  ;  and  so  far  as 
power  is  put  forth  separate  from  pure  love,  so  far 
the  government  of  the  Prince  of  peace  is  interrupt 
ed  ;  and  as  we  know  not  that  our  children  after  us 
will  dwell  in  that  state  in  which  power  is  rightly 
applied,  to  lay  up  riches  for  them  appears  to  be 
against  the  nature  of  his  government. 

The  earth,  through  the  labour  of  men  under  the 
blessing  of  Him  who  formed  it,  yieldeth  a  supply  for 
the  inhabitants  from  generation  to  generation,  and 
they  who  walk  in  the  pure  light,  their  minds  are  pre 
pared  to  taste  and  relish  not  only  those  blessings 
which  are  spiritual,  but  also  feel  a  sweetness  and 
satisfaction  in  a  right  use  of  the  good  gifts  of  God 
in  the  visible  creation. 

Here  we  see  that  man's  happiness  stands  not  in 
great  possessions,  but  in  a  heart  devoted  to  follow 
Christ,  in  that  use  of  things,  where  customs  con 
trary  to  universal  love  have  no  power  over  us. 

In  this  state,  our  hearts  are  prepared  to  trust  in 
God,  and  our  desires  for  our  children  and  posterity 
are,  that  they,  with  the  rest  of  mankind,  in  ages  to 
come,  may  be  of  that  number,  of  whom  He  hath 
said,  "  I  will  be  a  father  to  them,  and  they  shall  be 
my  sons  and  daughters. "  2 Cor.  vi.  IS. 


373 

When  wages  in  a  fruitful  land  bear  so  small  a 
proportion  to  the  necessaries  of  life,  that  poor  ho 
nest  people  who  have  families,,  cannot,  by  a  mode 
rate  industry,,  attain  to  a  comfortable  living',  and  give 
their  children  sufficient  learning,  but  must  either 
labour  to  a  degree  of  oppression,  or  else  omit  that 
which  appears  to  be  a  duty: — .While  this  is  the  case 
with  the  poor,,  there  is  an  inclination  in  the  minds 
of  most  people,  to  prepare,  at  least  so  much  trea 
sure  for  their  children,  that  they  with  care  and 
moderate  industry  may  live  free  from  these  hard 
ships  which  the  poor  pass  through. 

Now  this  subject  requireth  our  serious  consider 
ation.  To  labour  that  our  children  may  be  put  in  a 
way  to  live  comfortably,  appears  in  itself  to  be  a 
duty,  so  long  as  these  our  labours  are  consistent 
with  universal  righteousness;  but  if,  in  striving  to 
shun  poverty,  we  do  not  walk  in  that  state  where 
"Christ  is  our  life/'  then  we  wander:  "He  that 
hath  the  Son,  hath  life."  1  John  v.  12.  "This life 
is  the  light  of  men/'  John  i.  4.  If  we  walk  not 
in  this  light,  we  walk  in  darkness,  and  "he  that 
walketh  in  darkness,  knoweth  not  whither  he 
goeth."  John  xii.  35. 

To  keep  to  right  means  in  labouring  to  attain  a 
right  end  is  necessary.  If,  in  striving  to  shun 
poverty,  we  strive  only  in  that  state,  where  Christ  is 
the  light  of  our  life,  our  labours  will  stand  in  the 
true  harmony  of  society  ;  but,  if  people  are  confident 
that  the  end  aimed  at  is  good,  and  in  this  confi 
dence,  pursue  it  so  eagerly,  as  not  to  Wait  for  the 


374 

Spirit  of  truth  to  lead  them,  then  they  come  to 
loss.  Christ  is  given  to  be  a  leader  and  com 
mander  of  the  people.  Isaiah  Iv.  4.  Again,, 
"The  Lord  shall  guide  thee  continually/'  Isaiah 
Iviii.  lfi.ll  Again;  "  Lord  thou  wilt  ordain  peace  for 
us,  for  thou  also  hast  wrought  all  our  works  in  us." 
Isaiah  xxvi.  12.  <f  In  the  Lordjhave  we  righteous 
ness  and  strength."  Isaiah  xlv.  24. 

In  this  state,  our  minds  are  preserved  watchful, 
in  following  the  leadings  of  his  spirit  in  all  our  pro 
ceedings  in  this  world,  and  a  care  is  felt  for  a  refor 
mation  in  general ;  that  our  own  posterity,  with 
the  rest  of  mankind,  in  succeeding  ages,  may  not  be 
entangled  by  oppressive  customs,  transmitted  to 
them  through  our  hands.  But  if  people,  in  the  nar 
rowness  of  natural  love,  are  afraid  that  their  chil 
dren  will  be  oppressed  by  the  rich ;  and,  through 
an  eager  desire  to  get  treasures,  depart  from  the 
pure  leadings  of  truth  in  one  case,  though  it  may 
seem  to  be  a  small  matter,  yet  the  mind,  even  in 
that  small  matter,  may  be  emboldened  to  continue 
in  a  way  of  proceeding,  without  waiting  for  the 
divine  Leader. 

Thus  people  may  grow  expert  in  business,  wise 
in  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  retain  a  fair  reputation 
amongst  men,  and  yet,  being  strangers  to  the  voice 
of  Christ,  the  safe  leader  of  his  flock,  the  treasures 
thus  gotten,  may  be  like  snares  to  the  feet  of  their 
posterity. 

Now,  to  keep  faithful  to  the  pure  counsellor, 
and,  under  trying  circumstances,  suffer  adversity 
for  righteousness'  sake,  in  this  there  is  a  reward. 


375 

If  we,  being  poor,  are  hardly  dealt  with  by  those 
who  are  rich.,  and  under  this  difficulty,,  are  frugal 
and  industrious,  and  in  true  humility  open  our 
case  to  them  who  oppress  us,  this  may  reach  the 
pure  witness  in  their  minds  ;  and  though  we  should 
remain  under  difficulties  as  to  the  outward,,  yet  if 
we  abide  in  the  love  of  Christ,  all  will  work  for  our 
good. 

When  we  feel  what  it  is  to  suffer  in  the  true  suf 
fering  state,  then  we  experience  the  truth  of  those 
expressions,  that (c  as  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound 
in  us,  so  our  consolation  aboundeth  by  Christ/'  2 
Cor.  i.  5. 

But  if  poor  people  who  are  hardly  dealt  with,  do 
not  attain  to  the  true  suffering  state,  do  not  labour 
in  true  love  with  those  who  deal  hardly  with  them, 
but  envy  their  outward  greatness,  murmur  in  their 
hearts  because  of  their  own  poverty,  and  strive  iri 
the  wisdom  of  this  world  to  get  riches  for  themselves 
and  their  children ;  this  is  like  wandering  in  the 
dark. 

IV  we,  who  are  of  a  middle  station  between  riches 
and  poverty,  are  affected  at  times  with  the  oppres 
sions  of  the  poor,  and  feel  a  tender  regard  for  our 
posterity  after  us  ;  O  how  necessary  is  it  that  we 
wait  for  the  pure  counsel  of  truth  ! 

Many  have  seen  the  hardships  of  the  poor,  and 
feel  an  eager  desire  that  their  children  may  be  put 
in  a  way  to  escape  these  hardships ;  but  how  few 
have  continued  in  that  pure  love  which  openeth  our 
under  stand  ings  to  proceed  rightly  under  these  diffi 
culties  ! 


376 

How  few  have  faithfully  followed  that  holy 
Leader  who  prepares  his  people  to  labour  for  the 
restoration  of  true  harmony  amongst  our  fellow- 
creatures  ! 

In  the  pure  gospel  spirit, ff  we  walk  by  faith  and 
not  by  sight/'  2  Cor.  v.  7. 

In  the  obedience  of  faith  we  die  to  the  narrow 
ness  of  self-love,,  and  our  life  being  hid  with  Christ 
in  God,  our  hearts  are  enlarged  toward  mankind 
Universally;  but  in  departing  from  the  true  light 
of  life,  many  in  striving  to  get  treasures  have  sturri- 
bled  upon  the  dark  mountains. 

Now  that  purity  of  life  which  proceeds  from 
faithfulness  in  following  the  spirit  of  truth,  that  state 
where  our  minds  are  devoted  to  serve  God,  and  all 
our  wants  are  bounded  by  his  wisdorn  ;  this  habita 
tion  has  often  been  opened  before  me,  as  a  place  of 
retirement  for  t|ie  children  of  the  light,  where  we 
may  stand  separated  from  that  which  disor^ereth 
and  confuse th  (he  affairs  of  society,,  and  where  we 
may  have  a  testimony  of  our  innocence  in  the  hearts 
of  those  who  behold  us. 

Through  departing  from  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
through  introducing  ways  of  life  attended  with  un 
necessary  expenses,  many  wants  have  arisen,  the 
minds  of  people  have  been  employed  in  studying  to 
get  wealth,  and  in  this  pursuit  some  departing  from 
equity,  have  retained  a  profession  of  religion ;  others 
Jiave  looked  at  their  example,  and  thereby  been 
strengthened  to  proceed  further  in  the  same  way : 
thus  many  have  encouraged  the  trade  of  taking 
men  from  Africa,  and  selling  them  as  slaves. 


377 

It  hath  been  computed  that  near  one  hundred 
thousand  negroes  have,  of  late  years,,  been  taken 
annually  from  that  coast,  by  ships  employed  in  the 
English  trade. 

As  I  have  travelled  on  religious  visits  in  some 
parts  of  America,  I  have  seen  many  of  these  people 
under  the  command  of  overseers,  in  a  painful  servi 
tude. 

I  have  beheld  them  as  Gentiles,  under  people 
professing  Christianity ;  not  only  kept  ignorant  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  but  under  great  provocations 
to  wrath ;  of  whom  it  may  truly  be  said,  cc  They 
that  rule  over  them  make  them  to  howl/'  Isaiah  lii. 
5.  and  the  Holy  Name  is  abundantly  blasphemed. 
Where  children  are  taught  to  read  the  sacred 
writings,  while  young,  and  exampled  in  meek 
ness  and  humility,  it  is  often  helpful  to  them,  nor  is 
this  any  more  than  a  debt  due  from  us  to  a  succeed 
ing  age. 

But,  where  youth  are  pinched  for  want  of  the 
necessaries  of  life,  forced  to  labour  hard  under  the 
harsh  rebukes  of  rigorous  overseers,  and  many 
times  endure  unmerciful  whippings  :  in  such  an 
education,  how  great  are  the  disadvantages  they 
He  under!  And  how  forcibly  do  these  things  work 
against  the  increase  of  the  government  of  the  Prince 
of  peace  ! 

Humphrey  Smith,  in  his  works,  p.  125,  speaking 
of  the  tender  feelings  of  the  love  of  God  in  his 
heart  when  he  was  a  child,  said,  "  By  the  violent 
wrathful  nature  that  ruled  in  others,  was  my  quiet* 


378 

ness  disturbed,  and  anger  begotten  in  me  toward 
them,  yet  that  of  God  in  me  was  not  wholly  over 
come,  but  his  love  was  felt  in  my  heart,  and  great 
was  my  grief  when  the  earthly-rnindedness  and 
wrathful  nature  so  provoked  me,  that  I  was  estrang 
ed  from  it. 

"  And  this  I  write  as  a  warning  to  parents  and 
others,  that,  in  the  fear  of  the  living  God,  you  may 
train  up  the  youth,  and  may  riot  be  a  means  of 
bringing  them  into  such  alienation." 

Many  are  the  vanities  and  luxuries  of  the  present 
age,  and  in  labouring  to  support  a  way  of  living 
conformable  to  the  present  world,  the  departure 
from  that  wisdom  that  is  pure  and  peaceable,  hath 
been  great. 

Under  the  sense  of  a  deep  revolt,  and  an  over 
flowing  stream  of  unrighteousness,  my  life  has  been 
often  a  life  of  mourning,  and  tender  desires  are 
raised  in  me;,  that  the  nature  of  this  practice  may 
be  laid  to  heart. 

I  have  read  some  books  written  by  people  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  manner  of  getting  slaves 
in  Africa. 

I  have  had  verbal  relations  of  this  nature  from  se 
veral  negroes  brought  from  Africa,  who  have  learned 
to  talk  English. 

I  have  sundry  times  heard  Englishmen  speak  on 
this  subject,  who  have  been  in  Africa  on  this  busi 
ness  ;  and  from  all  these  accounts  it  appears  evident 
that  great  violence  is  committed,  and  much  blood 
shed  in  Africa  in  getting  slaves. 


379 

When  three  or  four  hundred  slaves  are  put  in  the 
hold  of  a  vessel  in  a  hot  climate,  their  breathing1 
soon  affects  the  air.  Were  that  number  of  free 
people  to  go  passengers  with  all  things  proper  for 
their  voyage,,  there  would  inconvenience  arise  from 
their  number  ;  but  slaves  are  taken  by  violence,  and 
frequently  endeavour  to  kill  the  white  people,  that 
they  may  return  to  their  native  land.  Hence  they 
are  frequently  kept  under  such  a  sort  of  confinement, 
by  means  of  which  a  scent  ariseth  in  the  hold  of  a 
ship,  and  distempers  often  break  out  amongst  them, 
of  which  many  die.  Of  this  tainted  air  in  the  hold 
of  ships  freighted  with  slaves,  1  have  had  several 
accounts,  some  in  print,  and  some  verbal,  and  all 
agree  that  the  scent  is  grievous.  When  these  peo 
ple  are  sold  in  America,  and  in  the  islands,  they  are 
made  to  labour  in  a  manner  more  servile  and  con 
stant,  than  that  which  they  were  used  to  at  home  ; 
thus,  with  grief,  with  different  diet  from  what  has 
been  common  with  them,  and  with  hard  labour,  some 
thousands  are  computed  to  die  every  year,  in  what 
is  called  the  seasoning. 

Thus  it  appears  evident,  that  great  numbers  of 
these  people  are  brought  every  year  to  an  untimely 
end  ;  many  of  them  being  such  as  never  injured 
us. 

Where  the  innocent  suffer  under  hard-hearted 
men,  even  unto  death,  and  the  channels  of  equity 
are  so  obstructed,  that  the  cause  of  the  sufferers  is 
not  judged  in  righteousness,  "the  land  is  polluted 
with  blood."  Numb.  xxxv.  33. 


380 

Where  blood  hath  been  shed  unrighteously.,  and 
remains  unatoned  for,  the  cry  thereof  is  very 
piercing. 

Under  the  humbling  dispensations  of  divine  Pro 
vidence,  this  cry  hath  deeply  affected  my  heart,  and 
I  feel  a  concern  to  open,  as  I  may  be  enabled,,  that 
which  lieth  heavy  on  my  mind. 

When  fc  the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Israel  and  of 
Judah  was  exceeding  great.,  when  the  land  was 
defiled  with  blood,  and  the  city  full  of  perverse- 
ness." 

Ezek.  ix.  9.  "  Some  were  found  sighing  and 
crying  for  the  abominations  of  the  times/'  Ezek. 
ix.  4.  and  such  as  live  under  a  right  feeling  of 
our  condition  as  a  nation,  these,  I  trust,  will  be 
sensible  that  the  Lord  at  this  day  doth  call  to 
mourning,  though  many  are  ignorant  of  it.  So 
powerful  are  bad  customs  when  they  become  gene 
ral,  that  people  growing  bold  through  the  examples 
one  of  another,  have  often  been  unmoved  at  the 
most  serious  warnings. 

Through  abiding  in  the  love  of  Christ,  we  feel  a 
tenderness  in  our  hearts  towards  our  fellow-crea 
tures,  entangled  in  oppressive  customs  ;  and  a  con 
cern  so  to  walk,  that  our  conduct  may  not  be  a 
means  of  strengthening  them  in  error. 

It  was  the  command  of  the  Lord,  through  Moses, 
ff  Thou  shalt  not  hate  thy  brother  in  thine  heart : 
thou  shalt  in  any  wise  rebuke  thy  neighbour,  and 
not  suffer  sin  upon  him."  Lev.  xix.  17. 

Again  ;  (t  Keep  thee  far  from  a  false  matter ;  and 


381 

the  innocent  and  righteous  slay  thou  not."     Exou1. 

xxiii.  7. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  mentions  oppression  as  that 
\vhich  the  true  church,  in  time  of  outward  quiet, 
should  not  only  be  clear  of,  but  should  be  far  from 
it,  ff  Thou  shalt  be  far  from  oppression/'  Isaiah 
liv.  14.  Now  these  words,  far  from,  appear  to  have 
an  extensive  meaning,  and  to  convey  instruction  in 
regard  to  that  of  which  Solomon  speaks,  "Though 
hand  join  in  hand,  Ihe  wicked  shall  not  go  unpu 
nished/'  Prov.  xvi.  5. 

It  was  a  complaint  against  one  of  old,  "  When 
thou  sawest  a  thief,  then  thou  consentedst  with 
him."  Psal.  1.  18. 

The  prophet  Jeremiah  represents  the  degrees  of 
preparation  toward  idolatrous  sacrifice,  in  the  simi 
litude  of  a  work  carried  on  by  children,  men  and 
women.  "  The  children  gather  wood,  and  the  fathers 
kindle  the  fire,  and  the  women  knead  their  dough 
to  make  cakes  to  the  queen  of  heaven/*  Jer. 
vii.  18. 

It  was  a  complaint  of  the  Lord  against  Israel, 
through  his  prophet  Ezekiel,  that  "  they  strength 
ened  the  hands  of  the  wicked,  and  made  the  heart 
of  the  righteous  sad."  Ezek.  xiii.  22. 

Some  works  of  iniquity  carried  on  by  the  people 
were  represented  by  the  prophet  Hosea,  in  the 
similitude  of  ploughing,  reaping,  and  eating  the 
fruit :  "  Ye  have  ploughed  wickedness,  reaped 
iniquity,  eaten  the  fruit  of  lies,  because  thou  didst 
trust  in  thy  way,  in  the  multitude  of  thy  mighty 
men."  Hosea  x.  13. 


382 

Our  blessed  Saviour,  speaking  of  the  people  of 
the  old  world,  said,  C(  They  did  eat,  they  drank, 
they  married  wives,  they  were  given  in  marriage, 
until  the  day  that  Noah  entered  into  the  ark,  and 
the  flood  came  and  destroyed  them  all."  Luke 
xvii.  27. 

The  like  he  spake  concerning  the  people  of 
Sodom,  who  are  also  represented  by  the  prophet  as 
haughty,  luxurious,  and  oppressive  :  ({  This  was 
the  iniquity  of  Sodorn  :  pride,  fulness  of  bread,  and 
abundance  of  idleness  was  in  her,  and  in  her  daugh 
ters;  neither  did  she  strengthen  the  hand  of  the 
poor  and  needy/'  Ezek.  xvi.  49. 

Now,  in  a  revolt  so  deep  as  this,  when  much 
blood  has  been  shed  unrighteously  in  carrying  on 
the  slave-trade,  and  in  supporting  the  practice  of 
keeping  slaves,  which  at  this  day  is  unatoned  for, 
and  crieth  from  the  earth  and  from  the  seas  against 
the  oppressor ! 

While  this  practice  is  continued,  and  under  a 
great  load  of  guilt,  there  is  more  unrighteousness 
committed,  the  state  of  things  is  very  moving  ! 

There  is  a  love  which  stands  in  nature,  and  a 
parent  beholding  his  child  in  misery,  hath  a  feeling 
of  the  affliction  ;  but  in  divine  love,  the  heart  is 
enlarged  towards  mankind  universally,  and  pre 
pared  to  sympathize  with  strangers,  though  in  the 
lowest  stations  in  life. 

Of  this  the  prophet  appears  to  have  had  a  feel 
ing,  when  he  said,  "  Have  we  not  all  one  Father? 
Hath  not  one  God  created  us  ?  Why  do  we  deal 
treacherously  every  man  against  his  brother,  by 


383 

profaning  the  covenant  of  our  fathers?"     Mai.  ii. 
10. 

He  who  of  old  heard  the  groans  of  the  children 
of  Israel.,  under  the  hard  task-masters  in  Egypt,  I 
trust,  hath  looked  down  from  his  holy  habitation 
on  the  miseries  of  these  deeply  oppressed  people. 
Many  lives  have  been  shortened  through  extreme 
oppression,  while  they  laboured  to  support  luxury 
and  worldly  greatness  ;  and  though  many  people 
in  outward  prosperity  may  think  little  of  these 
things,  yet  the  gracious  Creator  hath  regard  to  the 
cries  of  the  innocent,  however  unnoticed  by  men. 

The  Lord,  in  the  riches  of  his  goodness,  is  lead 
ing  some  into  the  feeling  of  the  condition  of  this 
people,  who  cannot  rest  without  labouring  as  their 
advocates  ;  of  which,  in  some  measure,  I  have  had 
experience,  for,  in  the  movings  of  his  love  in  my 
heart,  these  poor  sufferers  have  been  brought  near 
to  me. 

The  unoffending,  aged,  and  infirm,  made  to  labour 
too  hard,  kept  on  a  diet  less  comfortable  than  their 
weak  state  required,  and  exposed  to  great  diffi 
culties  under  hard-hearted  men,  to  whose  sufferings 
I  have  often  been  a  witness,  and  under  the  heart- 
melting  power  of  divine  love,  their  misery  hath  felt 
to  me  like  the  misery  of  my  parents. 

Innocent  youth,  taken  by  violence  from  their 
native  land,  from  their  friends  and  acquaintance ; 
put  on  board  ships  with  hearts  laden  with  sorrow; 
exposed  to  great  hardships  at  sea ;  placed  under 
people,  where  their  lives  have  been  attended  with 
great  provocation  to  anger  and  revenge. 


384 

With  the  condition  of  these  youth  rny  mind  hath 
often  been  affected,  as  with  the  afflictions  of  my 
children  ;  and,,  in  a  feeling-  of  the  misery  of  these 
people,  and  of  that  great  offence  which  is  ministered 
to  them,  my  tears  have  been  often  poured  out 
before  the  Lord. 

That  holy  Spirit  which  affected  my  heart  when  I 
was  a  youth,  I  trust,  is  often  felt  by  the  negroes 
in  their  native  land,  inclining  their  minds  to  that, 
which  is  righteous ;  and  had  the  professed  follow 
ers  of  Christ,  in  all  their  conduct  toward  them, 
manifested  a  disposition  answerable  to  the  pure 
principle  in  their  hearts,  how  might  the  holy 
Name  have  been  honoured  amongst  the  Gentiles, 
and  how  might  we  have  rejoiced  in  the  fulfilling 
of  that  prophecy,  fc  I  the  Lord  love  judgment,  I 
hate  robbery  for  burnt-offering,  and  I  will  direct 
their  work  in  truth,  and  make  an  everlasting  cove 
nant  with  them.  Their  seed  shall  be  known  among 
the  Gentiles,  and  their  offspring  among  the  people: 
all  that  see  them  shall  acknowledge  them,  that  they 
are  the  seed  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed."  Isaiah 
Ixi.  8,  9. 

But,  in  the  present  state  of  things,  how  contrary 
is  this  practice  to  that  meek  spirit,  in  which  our 
Saviour  laid  down  his  life  for  us,  that  all  the  ends 
of  the  earth  might  know  salvation  in  his  name! 

How  are  the  sufferings  of  our  blessed  Redeemer 
set  at  nought,  and  his  name  blasphemed  amongst 
the  Gentiles,  through  the  unrighteous  proceedings 
of  his  professed  followers  ! 

My  mind  hath  often  been  affected,  even  from  the 


385 

days  of  my  youth,,  under  a  sense  of  that  marvellous 
work,,  for  which  God,  in  infinite  goodness,  sent  his 
Son  into  the  world. 

The  opening  of  that  spring  of  living  waters, 
which  the  true  believers  in  Christ  experience,  by 
which  they  are  redeemed  from  pride  and  covetous- 
ness,  and  brought  into  a  state  of  meekness,  where 
their  hearts  are  enlarged  in  true  love  toward  their 
fellow-creatures  universally ;  this  work  to  me  has 
been  precious,  and  the  spreading  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  amongst  the  Gentiles  been  very  desira- 
able.  And  the  professed  followers  of  Christ  joining 
in  customs  evidently  unrighteous,  which  manifestly 
tend  to  stir  up  wrath,  and  increase  wars  and  desola 
tions,  hath  often  covered  my  mind  with  sorrow. 

If  we  bring  this  matter  home,  and,  as  Job  pro 
posed  to  his  friends,  ec  Put  our  soul  in  their  souls 
stead  ;"  Job  xvi.  4, — If  we  consider  ourselves  and 
our  children  as  exposed  to  the  hardships  which 
these  people  lie  under,  in  supporting  an  imaginary 
greatness ;  did  we  in  such  case  behold  an  increase 
of  luxury  and  superfluity  amongst  our  oppressors, 
and  therewith  felt  an  increase  of  the  weight  of  our 
burdens,  and  expected  our  posterity  to  groan  under 
oppression  after  us : — under  all  this  misery,  had  we 
none  ta  plead  our  cause,  nor  any  hope  of  relief  from 
man,  how  would  our  cries  ascend  to  the  God  of 
the  spirits  of  all  flesh,  who  judgeth  the  world  in 
righteousness,  and,  in  his  own  time,  is  a  refuge  f<M* 
the  oppressed  ? 

If  they  who  thus  afflicted  us,  continued  to  la]j^ 


386 

claim  to  religion,  and  were  assisted  in  their  business 
by  others,  esteemed  pious  people,  who,  through  a 
friendship  with  them,  strengthened  their  hands  in 
tyranny. 

In  such  a  state,  when  we  are  hunger-bitten,  and 
could  not  have  sufficient  nourishment,  but  saw  them 
in  fulness  pleasing  their  taste  with  things  fetched 
from  afar : 

When  we  were  wearied  with  labour,  denied  the 
liberty  to  rest,  and  saw  them  spending  their  time  at 
ease  :  when  garments  answerable  to  our  necessi 
ties  were  denied  us,  while  we  saw  them  clothed  in 
that  which  was  costly  and  delicate : 

Under  such  affliction,  how  would  these  painful 
feelings  rise  up  as  witnesses  against  their  pretended 
devotion  ?  And  if  the  name  of  their  religion  was 
mentioned  in  our  hearing,  how  would  it  sound  in 
our  ears  like  a  word  which  signified  self-exaltation, 
and  hardness  of  heart? 

When  a  trade  is  carried  on,  productive  of  much 
misery,  and  they  who  suffer  by  it,  are  some  thou 
sand  miles  off,  the  danger  is  the  greater,  of  not 
laying  their  sufferings  to  heart. 

In  procuring  slaves  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  many 
children  are  stolen  privately  ;  wars  also  are  encou 
raged  amongst  the  negroes,  but  ail  is  at  a  great 
distance. 

Many  groans  arise  from  dying  men  which  we 
hear  not. 

Many  cries  are  uttered  by  widows  and  fatherless 
children,  which  reach  not  our  ears. 


387 

Many  cheeks  are  wet  with  tears,  and  faces  sad 
with  unutterable  grief,  which  we  .see  not. 

Cruel  tyranny  is  encouraged.  The  hands  of 
robbers  are  strengthened,  and  thousands  reduced 
to  the  most  abject  slavery,  who  never  injured  us. 

Were  we,  for  the  term  of  one  year  only,  to  be 
eye-witnesses  to  what  passeth  in  getting  these 
slaves  : 

Were  the  blood  that  is  there  shed,  to  be  sprinkled 
on  our  garments : 

Were  the  poor  captives,  bound  with  thongs, 
heavy  laden  with  elephants'  teeth,  to  pass  before 
our  eyes  on  their  way  to  the  sea  : 

Were  their  bitter  lamentations,  day  after  day,  to 
ring  in  our  ears,  and  their  mournful  cries  in  the 
night  to  hinder  us  from  sleeping : 

Were  we  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  tumult,  when 
the  slaves  on  board  the  ships  attempt  to  kill  the 
English,  and  behold  the  issue  of  those  bloody  con 
flicts  : 

What  pious  man  could  be  a  witness  to  these 
things,  and  see  a  trade  carried  on  in  this  manner, 
without  being  deeply  affected  with  sorrow  ? 


388 

L.'v .  '    . "''.  '.'•-'  « \ 

CHAP,  II. 

On  Trading  in  Superfluities. 

I  HAVE  felt  great  distress  of  mind  since  I  came  on 
this  island,  on  account  of  the  members  of  our  so 
ciety  being  mixed  with  the  world  in  various  sorts  of 
business  and  traffic,  carried  on  in  impure  channels. 
Great  is  the  trade  to  Africa  for  slaves;  and  in  load 
ing  these  ships  abundance  of  people  are  employed 
in  the  manufactories. 

Friends,  in  early  time,  refused,  on  a  religious 
principle,  to  make  or  trade  in  superfluities,  of  which 
we  have  many  large  testimonies  on  record  ;  but,  for 
want  of  faithfulness,  some  gave  way,  even  some 
whose  examples  were  of  note  in  society  ;  and  from 
thence,  others  took  more  liberty.  Members  of  our 
society  worked  in  superfluities,  and  bought  and  sold 
them,  and  thus  dimness  of  sight  came  over  many. 
At  length,  friends  got  into  the  use  of  some  super 
fluities  in  dress,  and  in  the  furniture  of  their  houses, 
and  this  hath  spread  from  less  to  more,  till  super 
fluity  of  some  kinds  is  common  amongst  us. 

In  this  declining  state,  many  look  at  the  example 
one  of  another,  and  too  much  neglect  the  pure 
feeling  of  truth,  Of  late  years,  a  deep  exercise 
hath  attended  my  mind,  that  friends  may  dig  deep, 
may  carefully  cast  forth  the  loose  matter,  and  get 
down  to  the  rock,  the  sure  foundation,  and  there 
hearken  to  that  divine  voice  which  gives  a  clear  and 
certain  sound. 


389 

And  I  have  felt,  in  that  which  doth  not  deceive, 
that  if  friends  who  have  known  the  truth,  keep  in 
that  tenderness  of  heart,  where  all  views  of  outward 
gain  are  given  up,  and  their  trust  is  only  on  the 
Lord,  He  will  graciously  lead  some  to  be  patterns 
of  deep  self-denial,  in  things  relating  to  trade,  and 
handicraft  labour  :  arid  that  some,  who  have  plenty 
of  the  treasures  of  this  world,  will  example  in  a 
plain  frugal  life,  and  pay  wages  to  such  whom  they 
may  hire,  more  liberally  than  is  now  customary  in 
some  places. 

The  prophet,  speaking  of  the  true  church,  said, 
fc  Thy  people  also  shall  be  all  righteous." 

Of  the  depth  of  this  divine  work,  several  have 
spoken  : 

John  Gratton,  in  his  journal,  p.  45,  said,  "  The 
Lord  is  my  portion,  I  shall  not  want.  He  hath 
wrought  all  my  works  in  rne.  I  am  nothing,  but 
what  I  am  in  Him." 

Gilbert  Latey,  through  the  powerful  operations 
of  the  spirit  of  Christ  in  his  soul,  was  brought  to 
that  depth  of  self-denial,  that  he  could  not  join  with 
that  proud  spirit  in  other  people,  which  inclined 
them  to  want  vanities  and  superfluities.  This 
friend  was  often  amongst  the  chief  rulers  of  the 
nation  in  times  of  persecution,  and  it  appears  by 
the  testimony  of  friends,  that  his  dwelling  was  so 
evidently  in  the  pure  life  of  truth,  that,  in  his  visits 
to  those  great  men,  he  found  a  place  in  their  minds; 
and,  that  king  James  the  Second,  in  the  times  of 
his  troubles,  made  particular  mention,  in  a  very 
respectful  manner,  of  what  Gilbert  once  said  to  him. 


390 

The  said  Gilbert  found  a  concern  to  write  an 
epistle,  in  which  are  these  expressions :  "  Fear  the 
Lord.,  ye  men  of  all  sorts,  trades,  and  callings,  and 
leave  off  all  the  evil  that  is  in  them,  for  the  Lord  is 
grieved  with  all  the  evils  used  in  your  employments 
which  you  are  exercised  in." 

"  It  is  even  a  grief  to  see  how  you  are  servants 
to  sin,  and  instruments  of  Satan."  See  his  works, 
p.  42,  &c. 

George  Fox,  in  an  epistle,  writes  thus :  ' '  Friends, 
stand  in  the  eternal  power  of  God,  witnesses  against 
the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  world/' 

"  Such  tradesmen  who  stand  as  witnesses  in  the 
power  of  God,  cannot  fulfil  the  people's  minds  in 
these  vanities,  and  therefore  they  are  offended  at 
them." 

*'  Let  all  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  wait  patiently  on 
Him  ;  for  when  truth  first  broke  forth  in  London, 
many  tradesmen  could  not  take  so  much  money  in 
their  shops,  for  some  time,  as  would  buy  them 
bread  and  water,  because  they  withstood  the  world's 
ways,  fashions,  and  customs ;  yet,  by  their  patient 
waiting  on  the  Lord  in  their  good  life  and  conver 
sation,  they  answered  the  truth  in  people's  hearts, 
and  thus  their  business  increased."  Book  of  Doc - 
trinals,  P-  824. 

Now  Christ,  our  holy  Leader,  graciously  con- 
tinueth  to  open  the  understandings  of  his  people  ; 
and,  as  circumstances  alter  from  age  to  age,,  some 
who  are  deeply  baptized  into  a  feeling  of  the  state 
of  things,  are  led  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  into  exercises 
in  sbine  respect  different  from  those  which  attended 


391 

the  faithful  in  foregoing  ages,  and,  through  the 
constrainings  of  pure  love,  are  engaged  to  open  the 
feelings  they  have  to  others. 

In  faithfully  following  Christ,  the  heart  is  weaned 
from  the  desire  of  riches,  and  we  are  led  into  a 
life  so  plain  and  simple,  that  a  little  doth  suffice  ; 
and  thus  the  way  openeth  to  deny  ourselves,  under 
all  the  tempting  allurements  of  that  gain,  which  we 
know  is  the  gain  of  unrighteousness. 

The  apostle,  speaking  on  this  subject,  asketh 
this  question  :  "  What  fellowship  hath  righteous 
ness  with  unrighteousness?"  2  Cor.  vi.  14.  And 
again  saith,  (f  Have  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruit 
ful  works  of  darkness,  but  rather  reprove  them." 
Ephes.  v.  1 1 .  Again,  "  Be  not  partaker  of  other 
men's  sins,  keep  thyself  pure."  1  Tim.  v.  22. 

Where  people,  through  the  power  of  Christ,  are 
thoroughly  settled  in  a  right  use  of  things,  freed 
from  all  unnecessary  care  and  expense,  the  mind, 
in  this  true  resignation,  is  at  liberty  from  the  bands 
of  a  narrow  self-interest,  to  attend,  from  time  to 
time,  on  the  movings  of  his  Spirit  upon  us,  though 
he  leads  into  that,  through  which  our  faith  is 
closely  tried. 

The  language  of  Christ  is  pure,  and  to  the  pure 
in  heart,  this  pure  language  is  intelligible ;  but,  in 
the  love  of  money,  the  mind  being  intent  on  gain, 
is  too  full  of  human  contrivance  to  attend  to  it. 

It  appeareth  evident,  that  some  channels  of  trade 
are  defiled  with  unrighteousness  ;  that  the  minds 
of  many  are  intent  on  getting  treasures  to  sup- 


392 

port  a  life,  in  which  there  are  many  unnecessary 
expenses. 

And  I  feel  a  living  concern  attend  my  mind,  that 
under  these  difficulties  we  may  humbly  follow  our 
heavenly  Shepherd,,  who  graciously  regardeth  his 
flock,  and  is  willing  and  able  to  supply  us  both  in 
wardly  and  outwardly  with  clean  provender,  that 
hath  been  winnowed  with  the  shovel  and  the  fan, 
where  we  may,  "  Sow  to  ourselves  in  righteous 
ness,  reap  in  mercy ;"  Hosea  x.  12.;  and  not  be 
defiled  with  the  works  of  iniquity. 

Where  customs,  contrary  to  pure  wisdom,  are 
transmitted  to  posterity,  it  appears  to  be  an  injury 
committed  against  them  ;  and  I  often  feel  tender 
compassion  toward  a  young  generation,  arid  desires, 
that  their  difficulties  may  not  be  increased  through 
unfaithfulness  in  us  of  the  present  age. 

While  friends  were  kept  truly  humble,  and  walked 
according  to  the  purity  of  our  principles,  the  divine 
witness  in  many  hearts  was  reached ;  but,  when  a 
worldly  spirit  got  entrance,  therewith  came  in  lux 
uries  and  superfluities,  and  spread  by  little  and 
little,  even  amongst  the  foremost  rank  in  society, 
and  from  thence  others  took  liberty  in  that  way 
more  abundantly. 

In  the  continuation  of  these  things  from  parents 
to  children  there  were  many  wants  to  supply,  even 
wants  unknown  to  friends,  while  they  faithfully  fol 
lowed  Christ.  And,  in  striving  to  supply  those 
wants,  many  have  exacted  on  the  poor,  many  have 
entered  on  employments,  in  which  they  often  L bo ur 


393 

in  upholding  pride  and  vanity.  Many  have  looked 
on  one  another,  being  strengthened  in  these  things, 
one  by  the  example  of  another  ;  and  as  to  the  pure 
divine  seeing,  dimness  hath  come  over  many,  and 
the  channels  of  true  brotherly  love  been  obstructed. 


CHAP.  III. 

On  a  Sailor's  Life. 

IN  the  trade  to  Africa  for  slaves,  and  in  the  ma 
nagement  of  ships  going  on  these  voyages,  many  of 
our  lads  and  young  men  have  a  considerable  part  of 
their  education* 

Now,  what  pious  father,  beholding  his  son  placed 
in  one  of  these  ships,  to  learn  the  practice  of  a  ma 
riner,  could  forbear  mourning  over  him  ? 

Where  youth  are  exampled  in  means  of  getting 
money,  so  full  of  violence,  and  used  to  exercise  such 
cruelties  on  their  fellow-creatures,  the  disadvantage 
to  them,  in  their  education,  is  very  great. 

But.,  I  feel  it  in  my  mind  to  write  concerning  the 
seafaring  life  in  general. 

In  the  trade  carried  on  from  the  West  Indies,  and 
from  some  parts  of  the  continent,  the  produce  of  the 
labour  of  slaves  is  a  considerable  part. 

And  sailors  who  are  frequently  at  ports  where 
slaves  abound,  and  converse  often  with  people  who 
oppress  them  without  the  appearance  of  remorse, 
and  often  with  sailors  employed  in  the  slave  trade/ 


394 

how   powerfully   do  these    evil   examples   spread 
amongst  the  seafaring  youth  ! 

I  have  had  many  opportunities  to  feel  and  under 
stand  the  general  state  of  the  seafaring  life  amongst 
us,  and  my  mind  hath  often  been  sad  on  account  of 
so  many  lads  and  young  men  being  trained  up 
amidst  so  great  corruption. 

Under  the  humbling  power  of  Christ,  I  have  seen, 
that  if  the  leadings  of  his  holy  spirit  were  faithfully 
attended  to,  by  his  professed  followers  in  general, 
the  heathen  nations  would  be  exampled  in  righteous 
ness.  A  less  number  of  people  would  be  employed 
on  the  seas.  The  channels  of  trade  would  be  more 
free  from  defilement.  Fewer  people  would  be  em 
ployed  in  vanities  and  superfluities. 

The  inhabitants  of  cities  would  be  less  in  num 
ber. 

They  who  have  much  land  would  become  fathers 
to  the  poor. 

More  people  would  be  employed  in  the  sweet  em 
ployment  of  husbandry,  and  in  the  path  of  pure 
wisdom,  labour  would  be  an  agreeable,  healthful 
employment. 

In  the  opening  of  these  things  in  my  mind,  I  feel 
a  living  concern  that  we,  who  have  felt  divine  love 
in  our  hearts,  may  faithfully  abide  in  it,  and,  like 
good  soldiers,  endure  hardness  for  Christ's  sake. 

He,  our  blessed  Saviour,  exhorting  his  followers 
to  love  one  another,  adds,  "As  I  have  loved  you." 
John  xiii.  34. 

He  loved  Lazarus,  yet  in  his  sickness  did  not  heal 
him,  but  left  him  to  endure  the  pains  of  death,  that, 


395 

in  restoring  him  to  life,  the  people  might  be  con 
firmed  in  the  true  faith. 

He  loved  his  disciples,  but  sent  them  forth  on  a 
message  attended  with  great  difficulty,,  amongst 
hard-hearted  people,  some  of  whom  would  think 
that  in  killing  them  they  did  God  service. 

So  deep  is  divine  love,  that  in  stedfastly  abiding 
in  it,  we  are  prepared  to  deny  ourselves  of  all  that 
gain  which  is  contrary  to  pure  wisdom,  and  to  fol 
low  Christ,  even  under  contempt,  and  through  suf 
ferings. 


CHAP  IV. 

On  Silent  Worship. 

WORSHIP,  in  silence,  hath  often  been  refreshing 
to  my  mind,  and  a  care  attends  me  that  a  young 
generation  may  feel  the  nature  of  this  worship. 

Great  expense  ariseth  in  relation  to  that  which  is 
called  divine  worship. 

A  considerable  part  of  this  expense  is  applied  to 
ward  outward  greatness,  and  many  poor  people  in 
raising  of  jithe,  labour  in  supporting  customs  con 
trary  to  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ,  toward  whom 
my  rnind  hath  often  been  moved  with  pity. 

In  pure,  silent  worship,  we  dwell  under  the  holy 
anointing,  and  feel  Christ  to  be  our  shepherd. 

Here  the  best  of  teachers  ministers  to  the  several 
conditions  of  his  flock,  and  the  soul  receives,  irrime- 


396 

diately  from  the  divine  fountain,  that  with  which  it 
is  nourished. 

As  I  have  travelled  at  times  where  those  of  other 
societies  have  attended  our  meetings,  and  have  per 
ceived  how  little  some  of  them  knew  of  the  nature 
of  silent  worship  ;  I  have  felt  tender  desires  in  rny 
heart  that  we,  who  often  sit  silent  in  our  meetings,, 
may  live  answerable  to  the  nature  of  an  inward  fel 
lowship  with  God,  that  no  stumbling-block,  through 
us,  may  be  laid  in  their  way. 

Such  is  the  load  of  unnecessary  expense  which 
lieth  on  that  which  is  called  divine  service  in  many 
places,  and  so  much  are  the  minds  of  many  people 
employed  in  outward  forms  and  ceremonies,  that 
the  opening  of  an  inward,  silent,  worship  in  this 
nation,  to  me,  hath  appeared  to  be  a  precious 
opening. 

Within  the  last  four  hundred  years,  many  pious 
people  have  been  deeply  exercised  in  soul  on  ac 
count  of  the  superstition  which  prevailed  amongst 
the  professed  followers  of  Christ,  and  in  support  of 
their  testimony  against  oppressive  idolatry,  some, 
in  several  ages,  have  finished  .their  course  in  the 
flames. 

It  appears  by  the  history  of  the  reformation,  that, 
through  the  faithfulness  of  the  martyrs,  the  under 
standings  of  many  have  been  opened,  and  the  minds 
of  people,  from  age  to  age,  been  more  and  more 
prepared  for  a  real  spiritual  worship . 

My  mind  is  often  affected  with  a  sense  of  the 
condition  of  those  people, who,  in  different  ages,  have 
been  meek  and  patient,  following  Christ  through 


397 

great  afflictions  :  and  while  I  behold  the  several 
steps  of  reformation,  and  that  clearness,  to  which, 
throu  gh  divine  goodness,  it  hath  been  brought  by 
our  ancestors ;  I  feel  tender  desires  that  we,  who 
sometimes  meet  in  silence,  may  never  by  our  con 
duct  lay  stumbling-blocks  in  the  way  of  others, 
and  hinder  the  progress  of  the  reformation  in  the 
world. 

It  was  a  complaint  against  some  who  were  called 
the  Lord's  people,  that  they  brought  polluted  bread 
to  his  altar,  and  said  the  table  of  the  Lord  was 
contemptible. 

In  real  silent  worship,  the  soul  feeds  on  that 
which  is  divine ;  but  we  cannot  partake  of  the  ta 
ble  of  the  Lord,  and  that  table  which  is  prepared  by 
the  god  of  this  world. 

If  Christ  is  our  shepherd,  and  feedeth  us,  and  we 
are  faithful  in  following  Him,  our  lives  will  have  an 
inviting  language,  and  the  table  of  the  Lord  will 
not  be  polluted. 


AX 

EPISTLE 

TO    THE 

QUARTERLY  AND  MONTHLY  MEETINGS 
OF  FRIENDS. 


Beloved  Friends, 

FEELING  at  this  time  a  renewed  concern,  that  the 
pure  principle  of  light  and  life,  and  the  righteous 
fruits  thereof,  may  spread  and  prevail  amongst  man 
kind,  there  is  an  engagement  on  my  heart  to  labour 
with  my  brethren  in  religious  profession,  that  none 
of  us  may  be  a  stumbling-block  in  the  way  of 
others ;  but  may  so  walk,  that  our  conduct  may 
reach  the  pure  witness  in  the  hearts  of  such  who 
are  not  in  the  profession  with  us. 

And,  dear  friends,  while  we  publicly  own  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  our  leader,  the  profession  is  in  itself 
weighty,  and  the  weightiness  thereof  increaseth,  in 
proportion  as  we  are  noted  among  the  professors  of 
truth ;  and  active  in  dealing  with  such  who  walk 
disorderly. 

Many,  under  our  profession,  for  want  of  due  atten 
tion,  and  a  perfect  resignation  to  this  Divine  Teach- 


399 

er,  have,  in  some  things  manifested  a  deviation  from 
the  purity  of  our  religious  principles,  and  these  de 
viations  having  crept  in  amongst  us,  by  little  and 
little,  and  increasing  from  less  to  greater,  have  been 
so  far  unnoticed,  that  some  living  in  them,  have 
been  active  in  putting  discipline  in  practice,  with 
relation  to  others,  whose  conduct  hath  appeared 
more  dishonourable  in  the  world. 

Now,  as  my  mind  hath  been  exercised  before  the 
Lord,  I  have  seen,  that  the  discipline  of  the  church 
of  Christ  standeth  in  that  which  is  pure  ;  that,  it  is 
the  wisdom  from  above  which  gives  authority  to 
discipline  ;  and,  that  the  weigh tiness  thereof  stand 
eth  not  in  any  outward  circumstances,  but  in  the 
authority  of  Christ  who  is  the  author  of  it ;  and 
where  any  walk  after  the  flesh,  and  not  according 
to  the  purity  of  truth,  and  at  the  same  time  are 
active  in  putting  discipline  in  practice,  a  veil  is  gra 
dually  drawn  over  the  purity  of  discipline,  and  over 
that  holiness  of  life,  which  Christ  leads  those  into, 
ffin  whom  the  love  of  God  is  verily  perfected/' 
1  John  ii.  5 

When  we  labour,  in  true  love,  with  offenders,  and 
they  remain  obstinate,  it  sometimes  is  necessary  to 
proceed  as  far  as  our  Lord  directed,  "  Let  him  be 
to  thee  as  an  heathen  man,  or  a  publican."  Matt, 
xviii.  17. 

Now,  when  such  are  disowned,  and  they  who  act 
therein  feel  Christ  made  unto  them  wisdom,  and  are 
preserved  in  his  meek,  restoring,  spirit;  there  is  no 
just  cause  of  offence  ministered  to  any  ;  but  when 
such,  who  are  active  in  dealing  with  offenders  in- 


400 

dulge  themselves  in  things  which  are  contrary  to 
the  purity  of  truth,  and  yet  judge  others  whose 
conduct  appears  more  dishonourable  than  theirs, 
here  the  pure  authority  of  discipline  ceaseth,  as  to 
such  offenders,  and  a  temptation  is  laid  in  their  way 
to  wrangle  and  contend. — fc  Judge  not/'  said  our 
Lord,  C(  that  ye  be  not  judged."  Now  this  forbid 
ding,  alludes  to  man's  judgment,  and  points  out  the 
necessity  of  our  humblyattending  to  that  sanctifying 
power,  under  which  the  faithful  experience  the  Lord 
to  be  "a  spirit  of  judgment  to  them/*  Isaiah  xxviii. 
6.  And,  as  we  feel  his  Holy  Spirit  to  mortify  the 
deeds  of  the  body  in  us,  and  can  say,  cc  it  is  no  more 
I  that  live,  but  Christ  that  liveth  in  me/'  here  right 
judgment  is  known. 

And,  while  divine  love  prevails  in  our  hearts, 
and  self  in  us  is  brought  under  judgment,  a  prepa 
ration  is  felt  to  labour  in  a  right  manner  with  of 
fenders  ;  but  if  we  abide  not  in  this  love,  our  out 
ward  performance,  in  dealing  with  others,  degene 
rates  into  formality  ;  for  "  this  is  the  love  of  God, 
that  we  keep  his  commandments."  I  John  i.  3. 

How  weighty  are  those  instructions  of  our  Re 
deemer,  concerning  religious  duties,  when  he  points 
out,  that  they  who  pray,  should  be  so  obedient  to 
the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  humbly  con 
fiding  in  his  help,  they  may  say,  cc  Thy  name,  O 
Father  be  hallowed  !  Thy  kingdom  come  ;  thy  will 
be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven." — In  (his  aw 
ful  state  of  mind  is  felt  that  worship  which  stands 
in  doing  the  will  of  God,  on  earth,  as  it  is  done  in 
heaven,  and  keeping  the  holy  ^Name  sacred.  To 


401 

take  a  holy  profession  upon  us  is  awful,  nor  can  we 
keep  this  holy  Name  sacred,  but  by  humbly  abiding 
under  the  cross  of  Christ.  The  apostle  made  a  heavy 
complaint  against  some  who  profaned  this  holy 
Name  by  their  manner  of  living ;  cf  through  you/' 
he  says,  "  the  name  of  God  is  blasphemed  amongst 
the  Gentiles/'  Rom.  ii.  24. 

Some  of  our  ancestors  through  many  tribulations, 
were  gathered  into  the  state  of  true  worshippers, 
and  had  fellowship  in  that  which  is  pure  ;  and,  as 
one  was  inwardly  moved  to  kneel  down  in  their  as 
semblies,  and  publicly  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
those,  in  the  harmony  of  united  exercise  then  pre 
sent,  joined  in  the  prayer ;  I  mention  this,  in  order 
that  we  of  the  present  age,  may  look  unto  the  Rock 
from  whence  we  were  hewn,  and  remember,  that  to 
unite  in  worship,  is  a  union  in  prayer,  and  that 
prayer,  acceptable  to  the  Father,  is  only  in  a  mind 
truly  sanctified,  where  the  sacred  name  is  kept  holy, 
find  the  heart  resigned,  to  do  his  will  on  earth,  as  it 
is  done  in  heaven.  "  If  ye  abide  in  me/'  saith  Christ, 
<<rand  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye 
will  in  my  name,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you," — 
Now,  we  know  not  what  to  pray  for  as  we  ought, 
but  as  the  Holy  Spirit  doth  open  and  direct  our 
minds,  and  as  we  faithfully  yield  to  its  influences, 
our  prayers  are  in  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
who  fails  not  to  grant  that  which  his  own  spirit, 
through  his  children,  asketh  ; — thus,  preservation 
from  sin  is  known,  and  the  fruits  of  righteousness 
are  brought  forth  by  such  as  inwardly  unite  in 
prayer. 

Zc 


402 

How  weighty  are  our  solemn  meetings  when  the 
name  of  Christ  is  kept  holy  ! 

<c  How  precious  is  that  state  in  which  the  children 
of  the  Lord  are  so  redeemed  from  the  love  of  this 
world,,  that  they  are  accepted  and  blessed  in  all  that 
they  do."  R.  Barclay's  Apology,  p.  404. 

How  necessary  is  it  that  we  who  profess  these 
principles,  and  are  outwardly  active  in  supporting 
them,  should  faithfully  abide  in  divine  strength,  that 
as  He  who  hath  called  us  is  holy,  so  we  may  be 
holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation.  I  Pet.  i.  15. 

If  one,  professing  to  be  influenced  by  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  proposeth  to  unite  in  a  labour  to  promote 
righteousness  in  the  earth,  and,  in  time  past,  he 
hath  manifestly  deviated  from  the  path  of  equity, 
then  to  act  consistently  with  this  principle,  his  first 
work  is  to  make  restitution  so  far  as  he  may  be 
enabled  ;  for  if  he  attempts  to  contribute  toward  a 
work,  intended  to  promote  righteousness,  while  tit 
appears  that  he  neglecteth,  or  refuseth  to  act  righh- 
eously  himself,  his  conduct  has  a  tendency  to  en 
tangle  the  minds  of  those  who  are  weak  in  the 
faith,  who  behold  these  things,  and  to  draw  a  veil 
over  the  purity  of  righteousness,  by  carrying  an 
appearance,,  as  though  that  was  righteousness^which 
is  not. 

Again,  if  I  propose  to  assist  in  supporting  those 
doctrines  wherein  that  purity  of  life  is  held  forth,  in 
which  customs,  proceeding  from  the  spirit  of  this 
world,  have  no  place ;  and  at  the  same  time,  strength 
en  others  in  those  customs,  by  my  example ;  the 
first  step  then,  in  an  orderly  proceeding,  is  to  cease 


403 

from  those  customs  myself,  and  afterwards  to  labour, 
as  I  may  be  enabled,  to  promote  the  like  disposi 
tion  and  conduct  in  others. 

To  be  convinced  of  the  pure  principle  of  truth, 
and  diligently  exercised  in  walking  answerable 
thereto,  is  necessary,  before  I  can  consistently  re 
commend  this  principle  to  others. — I  often  feel  a 
labour  in  spirit,  that  we  who  are  active  members  in 
religious  society  may  experience,  in  ourselves,  the 
truth  of  those  expressions  of  the  Holy  One — "  I  will 
be  sanctified  in  them  that  come  nigh  me."  Lev.  x. 
3. — In  this  case,  my  mind  hath  been  often  exercised 
when  alone,  year  after  year,  for  many  years,  and  in 
the  renewings  of  divine  love,  a  tender  care  hath 
been  incited  in  me,  that  we  who  profess  the  inward 
principle  of  light  to  be  our  teacher,  may  be  a'family 
united  in  that  purity  of  worship,  which  compre 
hends  a  holy  life,  and  ministers  instruction  to  others. 

My  mind  is  often  drawn  towards  children  in 
the  truth,  who  having  a  small  share  of  the  things 
of  this  life,  and  coming  to  have  families,  may  be 
inwardly  exercised  before  the  Lord  to  support  them, 
in  a  way  agreeable  to  the  purity  of  truth,  in  which 
they  may  feel  his  blessing  upon  them  in  their  la 
bours  ;  the  thoughts  of  such  being  entangled  with 
customs,  contrary  to  pure  wisdom,  conveyed  to 
them  through  our  hands,  doth  often  very  tenderly 
and  movingly  affect  my  heart,  and,  when  I  look  to 
wards  and  think  on  the  succeeding  generation,  fer 
vent  desires  are  raised  in  me,  that  we,  by  yielding 
to  that  Holy  Spirit  which  leads  into  all  truth,  may 
not  do  the  work  of  the  Lord  deceitfully,  may  not 


404 

live  contrary  to  the  purity  of  the  divine  principle 
we  profess;  but  that,  as  faithful  labourers  in  our 
age,  we  may  be  instrumental  in  removing'  stum 
bling  blocks  out  of  the  way  of  those  who  may  suc 
ceed  us. 

So  great  was  the  love  of  Christ,  that  he  gave 
himself  for  the  church,  that  he  might  sanctify  and 
cleanse  it,  that  it  should  be  holy,  and  without 
blemish,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such 
thing/'  Eph.  v.  25.  And,  where  any  take  the 
name  of  Christ  upon  them,  professing  to  be  mem 
bers  of  his  church,  and  led  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and 
yet  manifestly  deviate  from  the  purity  of  truth,  they 
herein  act  against  the  gracious  design  of  his  giving 
himself  for  them,  and  minister  cause  for  the  conti 
nuance  of  his  afflictions,  viz.  in  his  body,  the  church. 

Christ  suffered  afflictions  in  a  body  of  flesh  pre 
pared  by  the  Father,  but  the  afflictions  of  his  mys 
tical  body  are  yet  unfinished ;  for  they  who  are 
baptized  into  Christ  are  baptized  into  his  death. 
And,  as  we  humbly  abide  under  his  sanctifying  power, 
and  are  brought  forth  into  newness  of  life,  we  feel 
Christ  to  live  in  us,  who  being  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  for  ever,  and  always  at  unity  with  him 
self,  his  spirit,  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  leads  to 
an  inward  exercise  for  the  salvation  of  mankind : 
and  when,  under  a  travail  of  spirit,  we  behold  a 
visited  people,  entangled  by  the  spirit  of  this  world 
with  its  wickedness  and  customs,  and  thereby  ren 
dered  incapable  of  being  faithful  examples  to  others, 
sorrow  and  heaviness,  under  a  sense  of  these  things, 
is  often  experienced ;  and  thus,  in  some  measure, 


405 

is  filled  up  that  which  remains  of  the  afflictions  of 
Christ. 

Our  blessed  Saviour,  speaking1  concerning  gifts 
offered  in  divine  service,,  says,  f{  If  thou  bring  thy 
gift  to  the  altar,  and  there  rememberest  that  thy 
brother  hath  ought  against  thee,  leave  there  thy  gift 
before  the  altar,  and  go  thy  way,  first  be  reconciled 
to  thy  brother,  and  then  come  and  offer  thy  gift." 
Matt.  v.  23,  24.  Now,  there  is  no  true  unity,  but 
in  that  wherein  the  Father  and  the  Son  are  united  ; 
nor  can  there  be  a  perfect  reconciliation  but  in 
ceasing  from  that  which  ministers  cause  for  the  con 
tinuation  of  the  afflictions  of  Christ ;  and  if  any, 
professing  to  bring  their  gift  to  the  altar,  do  remem 
ber  the  customary  contradiction  which  some  of  their 
fruits  bear  to  the  pure,  spiritual,  worship,  here  it  ap 
pears  necessary  to  lay  to  heart  this  command, <e  leave 
thy  gift  before  the  altar/' 

Christ  graciously  calls  his  people  brethren  ;  ^who 
soever  shall  do  the  will  of  God,  the  same  is  my 
brother/'  Mark  iii.  *$5.  Now,  if  we  walk  contrary 
to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  while  we  continue  to 
profess  it,  we  offend  against  Christ ;  and  if,  under 
this  offence,  we  bring  our  gift,  to  the  altar,  our  Re 
deemer  doth  not  direct  us  to  take  back  our  gift,  he 
doth  not  discourage  our  proceeding  in  a  good  work  ; 
but  graciously  points  out  the  necessary  means  by 
which  the  gift  may  be  rendered  acceptable,  "  leave," 
saith  he,  "  thy  gift  before  the  altar  and  go  thy  way, 
first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother :"  cease  from  that 
which  grieves  the  Holy  Spirit,  cease  from  that  which 


4()6 

is  against  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  then  come, 
and  offer  thy  gift. 

I  feel,  while  I  am  writing,  a  tenderness  to  those 
who,  through  divine  favour,  are  preserved  in  a 
lively  sense  of  the  state  of  the  churches,  and,  at 
times,  may  be  under  discouragements  with  regard 
to  proceeding  in  that  pure  way  which  Christ  by  his 
Holy  Spirit  leads  into.  The  depth  of  disorder  and 
weakness,  which  so  much  prevails,  being  opened, 
doublings  are  apt  to  arise,  as  to  the  possibility  of 
proceeding  as  an  assembly  of  the  Lord's  people,  in 
the  pure  counsel  of  truth  ;  and  here  I  feel  a  con 
cern  to  express,  in  uprightness,  that  which  hath 
been  opened  in  my  mind,  under  the  power  of  the 
cross  of  Christ,  relating  to  a  visible  gathered 
church,  the  members  whereof  are  guided  by  the 
Holy  Spirit, 

The  Church  is  called  the  body  of  Christ,  Col. 
i.  g*£ 

Christ  is  called  the  head  of  the  church,  Eph. 
i.  22. 

The  church  is  called  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the 
truth,  1  Tim.  iii.  15. 

Thus,  the  church  hath  a  name  that  is  sacred,  and 
the  necessity  of  keeping  this  name  holy,  appears 
evident ;  for  where  a  number  of  people  unite  in  a 
profession  of  being  led  by  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and 
publish  their  principles  to  the  world,  the  acts  and 
proceedings  of  that  people  may,  in  some  measure, 
be  considered  as  such  which  Christ  is  the  author  of. 

Now,  while  we  stand  in  this  station,  if  the  pure 
light  of  life  is  not  followed  and  regarded  in  our  pro- 


40? 

ceedings,  we  are  in  the  way  of  profaning  the  holy 
Name,  arid  of  going  back  toward  that  wilder 
ness  of  sufferings  and  persecution,,  out  of  which, 
through  the  tender  mercies  of  God,  a  church  hath 
been  gathered.  Christ  liveth  in  sanctified  vessels, 
Gal.  ii.  20.  and  where  they  behold  his  holy  Name 
profaned,  and  the  pure  gospel  light  eclipsed, 
through  the  unfaithfulness  of  any  who,  by  their  sta 
tion,  appear  to  be  standard-bearers,  under  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  the  living  members  in  the  body  of 
Christ,  in  beholding  these  things,  do,  in  some  de 
gree,  experience  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings; 
and,  as  the  wisdom  of  the  world  more  and  more 
takes  place  in  conducting  the  affairs  of  this  visible 
gathered  church,  and  the  pure  leadings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  are  less  waited  for  and  followed,  so,  the  true 
suffering  seed  is  more  and  more  oppressed. 

My  mind  is  often  affected  with  a  sense  of  the 
condition  of  sincere-hearted  people  in  some  king 
doms  where  liberty  of  conscience  is  not  allowed, 
many  of  whom  being  burthened  in  their  minds  with 
prevailing  superstition,  joined  with  oppressions, 
are  often  under  sorrow ;  and  where  such  have 
attended  to  that  pure  light  which  hath  in  some 
degree  opened  their  understandings,  and,  for  their 
faithfulness  thereto,  have  been  brought  to  examina 
tion  and  trial,  how  heavy  are  the  persecutions 
which,  in  di\7ers  parts  of  the  world  are  exercised 
upon  them  !  How  mighty,  as  to  the  outward,  is 
that  power,  by  which  they  are  borne  down  and 
oppressed  ! 

How  deeply  affecting  is  the  condition  of  many 


408 

upright-hearted  people  who  are  taken  into  the 
papal  inquisition  !  What  lamentable  cruelties,  in 
deep  vaults,  in  a  private  way,  are  exercised  pn 
many  of  them  !  and  how  lingering  is  that  death,  by 
a  small  slow  fire,  which  they  have  frequently  eu~ 
dured,  who  have  been  faithful  to  the  end  ! 

How  many  tender-spirited  Protestants  have  been 
sentenced  to  spend  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  a 
galley  chained  to  oars,  under  hard-hearted  masters, 
while  their  young  children  are  placed  out  for  edu 
cation,  and  taught  principles  so  contrary  to  the 
consciences  of  the  parents,  that,  by  dissenting  from 
them,  they  have  hazarded  their  liberty,  lives,  and 
all  that  was  dear  to  them  of  the  things  of  this 
world ! 

There  have  been,  in  time  past,  severe  persecu 
tions,  under  the  English  government,  and  many 
sincere-hearted  people  have  suffered  death  for  the 
testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  whose  faithfulness, 
in  their  day,  hath  ministered  encouragements  to 
others,  and  been  a  blessing  to  many  who  have  suc 
ceeded  them.  Thus,  from  age  to  age,  the  darkness 
being  more  and  more  removed,  a  channel,  at  length, 
through  the  tender  mercies  of  God,  hath  been 
opened  for  the  exercise  of  the  pure  gift  of  the  gos 
pel  ministry,  without  interruption  from  outward 
power,  a  work,  the  like  of  which  is  rare,  and  un 
known  in  many  parts  of  the  world. 

As  these  things  are  often  fresh  in  my  mind,  and 
this  great  work  of  God,  going  on  in  the  earth,  has 
been  open  before  me,  that  liberty  of  conscience  with 
which  we  are  favoured,  hath  appeared  not  as  a 
light  matter. 


409 

A  trust  is  committed  to  us,  a  great  and  weighty 
trust,  to  which  our  diligent  attention  is  necessary. 
Wherever  the  active  members  of  this  visible  gathered 
church  use  themselves  to  that  which  is  contrary  to 
the  purity  of  our  principles,  it  appears  to  be  a 
breach  of  this  tcust,  and  one  step  back  toward  the 
wilderness,  one  step  towards  undoing  what  God,  in 
infinite  love,,  hath  done,  through  his  faithful  ser 
vants,  in  a  work  of  several  ages,  and  is  like  laying 
the  foundation  for  future  sufferings. 

I  feel  a  living  invitation  in  my  mind  to  such  who 
are  active  in  our  religious  society,  that  we  may  lay 
to  heart  this  matter,  and  consider  the  station  in 
which  we  stand  ;  a  place  of  outward  liberty,  under 
the  free  exercise  of  our  conscience,  towards  God, 
not  obtained,  but  through  great  and  manifold  afflic 
tions  of  those  who  lived  before  us.  There  is  grati 
tude  due  from  us  to  our  heavenly  Father,  and 
justice  to  our  posterity.  Can  our  hearts  endure,  or 
our  hands  be  strong,  if  we  desert  a  cause  so  pre 
cious,  if  we  turn  aside  from  a  work,  under  which  so 
many  have  patiently  laboured  ? 

May  the  deep  sufferings  of  our  Saviour  be  so 
dear  to  us,  that  we  may  never  trample  under  foot 
the  adorable  Son  of  God,  nor  count  the  blood  of 
the  covenant  unholy  ! 

May  the  faithfulness  of  the  martyrs,  when  the 
prospect  of  death  by  fire  was  before  them,  be  re 
membered  !  and  may  the  patient  constant  sufferings 
of  the  upright-hearted  servants  of  God,  in  later 
ages,  be  revived  in  our  minds !  and  may  we  so 
follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  that  neither  the  faithful 


410 

in  this  age,  nor  those  in  ages  to  come,  may  ever  be 
brought  under  suffering,  through  our  sliding  baek 
from  the  work  of  reformation  in  the  world  ! 

While  the  active  members  in  the  visible  gathered 
church  stand  upright,  and  the  affairs  thereof  are 
carried  on,  under  the  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
although  disorders  may  arise  among  us,  and  cause 
many  exercises  to  those  who  feel  the  care  of  the 
churches  upon  them  ;  yet,  while  these  continue 
under  the  weight  of  the  work,  and  labour,  in  the 
meekness  of  wisdom,  for  the  help  of  others,  the 
name  of  Christ,  in  the  visible  gathered  church,  may 
be  kept  sacred  ;  but,  while  they  who  are  active  in 
the  affairs  of  this  church  continue  in  a  manifest 
opposition  to  the  purity  of  our  principles,  this,  as 
the  prophet  Isaiah,  x.  18,  expresseth  it,  is  like  "  as 
when  a  standard-bearer  fainteth  :"  and  thus  the 
way  opens  to  great  and  prevailing  degeneracy,  and 
to  sufferings  for  such,  who,  through  the  power  of 
divine  love,  are  separated  to  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
and  cannot  unite  with  any  thing  which  stands  in 
opposition  to  the  purity  of  it. 

The  necessity  of  an  inward  stillness  hath,  under 
these  exercises,  appeared  clear  to  my  mind.  In  true 
silence  strength  is  renewed,  the  mind  herein  is 
weaned  from  all  things,  but  as  they  may  be  enjoyed 
in  the  divine  will ;  and  a  lowliness  in  outward  living, 
opposite  to  worldly  honour,  becomes  truly  accept 
able  to  us.  In  the  desire  after  outward  gain,  the 
mind  is  prevented  from  a  perfect  attention  to  the 
voice  of  Christ ;  but,  being  weaned  from  all  things, 
but  as  they  may  be  enjoyed  in  the  divine  will,  the 


411 

pure  light  shines  into  the  soul :  and,  where  the 
fruits  of  that  spirit  which  is  of  this  world,  are 
brought  forth  by  many  who  profess  to  be  led  by 
the  spirit  of  truth,  and  cloudiness  is  felt  to  be  ga 
thering  over  the  visible  gathered  church,,  the  sincere 
in  heart,  who  abide  in  true  stillness,  and  are  exer 
cised  therein  before  the  Lord  for  his  name's  sake, 
have  knowledge  of  Christ  in  the  fellowship  of  his 
sufferings;  and  inward  thankfulness  is  felt,  at  times, 
that  through  divine  love,  our  own  wisdom  is  cast 
out,  and  that  forward  active  part  in  us  subjected, 
which  would  rise  and  do  something  in  the  visible 
gathered  church,  without  the  pure  leadings  of  the 
Spirit  of  Christ. 

While  aught  remain  in  us  different  from  a  per 
fect  resignation  of  our  wills,  it  is  like  a  seal  to  a 
book,  wherein  is  written  "  that  good  and  accept 
able  and  perfect  will  of  God"  concerning  us.  Rom. 
xii.  2.  But,  when  our  minds  entirely  yield  to 
Christ,  that  silence  is  known,  which  followeth  the 
opening  of  the  last  of  the  seals,  Rev.  viii.  1.  In  this 
silence,  we  learn  abiding  in  the  divine  will,  and 
there  feel,  that  we  have  no  cause  to  promote  but 
that  only  in  which  the  light  of  life  directs  us  in  our 
proceedings  ;  and  that  the  alone  way  to  be  useful 
in  the  church  of  Christ,  is  to  abide  faithfully  under 
the  leadings  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  in  all  cases,  and, 
being  preserved  thereby  in  purity  of  heart  and  holi 
ness  of  conversation,  a  testimony  to  the  purity  of 
his  government  may  be  held  forth  through  us,  to 
others. 

As  my  mind   hath  been  thus  exercised,  I  have 


412 

seen,  that  to  be  active  and  busy  in  the  visible  ga 
thered  church,  without  the  leadings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  is  not  only  unprofitable,  but  tends  to  increase 
dimness ;  and,  where  way  is  not  opened  to  proceed 
in  the  light  of  truth,  a  stop  is  felt  by  those  who 
humby  attend  to  the  Divine  Leader,  a  stop  which, 
in  relation  to  good  order  in  the  visible  gathered 
church,  is  of  the  greatest  consequence  to  be  ob 
served  ;  thus,  Robert  Barclay,  in  his  treatise  on 
discipline,  holds  forth  (page  65,  68,  84.;  :  "  That 
the  judgment  or  conclusion  of  the  church  or  con 
gregation  is  no  further  effectual,  as  to  the  true  end 
and  design  thereof,  but  as  such  judgment  or  con 
clusion  proceeds  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  operating 
on  their  minds  who  are  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus." 

Now,  in  this  stop,  I  have  learned  the  necessity  of 
waiting  on  the  Lord  in  humility,  that  the  works  of 
all  may  be  brought  to  light,  arid  those  to  judgment 
which  are  wrought  in  the  wisdom  of  this  world  ; 
and  have  also  seen,  that,  in  a  mind  thoroughly  sub 
jected  to  the  power  of  the  cross,  there  is  a  savour  of 
life  to  be  felt,  which  evidently  tends  to  gather  souls 
to  God,  while  the  greatest  works  in  the  visible 
gathered  church,  brought  forth  in  man's  wisdom, 
remain  to  be  unprofitable. 

Where  people  are  divinely  gathered  into  a  holy 
fellowship,  and  faithfully  abide  under  the  influence 
of  that  Spirit  which  leads  into  all  truth,  "  they  are 
the  light  of  the  world."  Matt.  v.  14.  Now,  holding 
this  profession,  to  rne  hath  appeared  weighty,  even 
beyond  what  I  can  fully  express,  and  what  our 
blessed  Lord  seemed  to  have  in  view,  when  he  pro- 


413 

posed  the  necessity  of  counting  the  cost  before  we 
begin  to  build. 

I  trust  there  are  many  who,  at  times,  under  divine 
visitation,,  feel  an  inward  inquiry  after  God  ;  and, 
when  such,  in  the  simplicity  of  their  hearts,  mark 
the  lives  of  a  people  who  profess  to  walk  by  the 
leadings  of  his  Spirit,  of  what  great  concernment  is 
it  that  our  lights  shine  clear,  that  nothing  of  our 
conduct  carry  a  contradiction  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  or  be  a  means  of  profaning  his  holy  Name, 
and  be  a  stumbling  block  in  the  way  of  those  sin 
cere  inquirers. 

When  such  seekers,  who,  wearied  with  empty 
forms,  look  towards  uniting  with  us  as  a  people,  and 
behold  active  members  among  us  depart,  in  their 
customary  way  of  living,  from  that  purity  of  life, 
which,  under  humbling  exercises,  hath  been  opened 
before  them,  as  the  way  of  the  Lord's  people,  how 
mournful  and  discouraging  is  the  prospect!  and  how 
strongly  doth  such  unfaithfulness  operate  against 
the  spreading  of  the  peaceable,  harmonious  princi 
ple  and  testimony  of  truth  amongst  mankind  ! 

In  entering  into  that  life  which  is  hid  with  Christ 
in  God,  we  behold  his  peaceable  government,  where 
the  whole  family  are  governed  by  the  same  spirit^ 
and  the  fc  doing  to  others  as  we  would  they  should 
do  unto  us/'  groweth  up,  as  good  fruit  from  a  good 
tree.  The  peace,  quietness,  and  harmonious  walk 
ing  in  this  government  is  beheld  with  humble 
reverence  to  him  who  is  the  author  of  it ;  and  in 
partaking  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  we  partake  of  that 
which  labours  and  suffers  for  the  increase  of  this 
peaceable  government,  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 


414 

world.  And  I  have  felt  a  labour  of  long  continu 
ance,  that  we  who  profess  this  peaceable  principle, 
may  be  faithful  standard-bearers,,  under  the  Prince 
of  Peace  ;  and  that  nothing  of  a  defiling  nature., 
tending  to  discord  and  wars,  may  remain  among  us. 

May  each  of  us  query  with  ourselves,,  have  the 
treasures  I  possess,  been  gathered  in  that  wisdom 
which  is  from  above,  so  far  as  hath  appeared  to  me? 

Have  none  of  my  fellow-creatures  an  equitable 
right  to  any  part  which  is  called  mine  ? 

Have  the  gifts  and  possessions  received  by  me 
from  others,  been  conveyed  in  a  way  free  from  all 
unrighteousness,  so  far  as  I  have  seen  ? 

The  principle  of  peace,  in  which  our  trust  is  only 
on  the  Lord,  and  our  minds  weaned  from  a  depend 
ence  on  the  strength  of  armies,  hath  appeared  to 
me  very  precious ;  and  I  often  feel  strong  desires, 
that  we  who  profess  this  principle,  may  so  walk,  as 
to  give  just  cause  for  none  of  our  fellow-creatures 
to  be  offended  at  us  ;  that  our  lives  may  evidently 
manifest,  that  we  are  redeemed  from  that  spirit  in 
which  wars  are.  Our  blessed  Saviour,  in  pointing 
out  the  dander  of  so  leaning  on  man  as  to  neglect 
the  leadings  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  said,  Cf  Call  no  man 
your  father  upon  the  earth  ;  for  one  is  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven/'  Matt,  xxiii.  9.  Where  the  wis 
dom  from  above  is  faithfully  followed,  and  therein  we 
are  intrusted  with  substance,  it  is  a  treasure  com 
mitted  to  our  care,  in  the  nature  of  an  inheritance, 
as  an  inheritance  from  Him  who  formed  and  sup 
ports  the  world.  Now,  in  this  condition,  the  true 
enjoyment  of  the  good  things  of  this  life  is  under 
stood,  and  that  blessing  felt,  in  which  is  real  safety. 


415 

This  is  what  I  apprehend  our  blessed  Lord  had  in 
view,,  when  he  pronounced,  f{  Blessed  are  the  meek, 
for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth." 

Selfish  worldly-minded  men  may  hold  lands  in  the 
selfish  spirit;  and,  depending  on  the  strength  of  the 
outward  power,  be  perplexed  with  secret  uneasi 
ness,  lest  the  injured  should  sometime  overpower 
them,  and  that  measure  be  meted  to  them  which  they 
measure  to  others.  Thus,  selfish  men  may  possess 
the  earth  ;  but  it  is  the  meek  who  inherit  it,  and 
enjoy  it,  as  an  inheritance  from  the  heavenly  Father, 
free  from  all  the  defilements  and  perplexities  of 
unrighteousness. 

Where  proceedings  have  been  in  that  wisdom 
which  is  from  beneath,  and  inequitable  gain  ga 
thered  by  a  man,  and  left  as  a  gift  to  his  children, 
who,  being  entangled  by  the  same  worldly  spirit, 
have  not  attained  to  that  clearness  of  light,  in  which 
the  channels  of  righteousness  are  opened,  and  jus 
tice  done  to  those  who  remain  silent  under  injuries  : 
Here  I  have  seen,  under  humbling  exercise  of  mind, 
that  the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  embraced  by  the 
children,  and  become  their  sins,  and  thus,  in  the  days 
of  tribulation,  the  iniquities  of  the  fathers  are  visited 
upon  these  children,  who  take  hold  of  the  unrighte 
ousness  of  their  fathers,  and  live  in  that  spirit  in 
which  those  iniquities  were  committed,    to  which 
agreeth  the  prophecy  of  Moses,  concerning  a  re 
bellious  people. — ce  They  that  are  left  of  you  shall 
pine  away  in  their  iniquity,  in  your  enemies'  lands, 
and  also  in  the  iniquities  of  their  fathers  shall  they 
pine  away  with  them/'     Lev.  xxvi.  39.     And  our 
blessed  Lord^  in  beholding  the  hardness  of  heart 


416 

in  that  generation,  and  feeling  in  himself,  that  they 
lived  in  the  same  spirit  in  which  the  prophets  had 
been  persecuted  unto  death,  signified,  fc  that  the 
blood  of  all  the  prophets  which  was  shed  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  should  be  required  of  that 
generation,  from  the  blood  of  Abel,  unto  the  blood 
of  Zacharias,  which  perished  between  the  altar  and 
the  temple/'  Luke  xi.  51. 

Tender  compassion  fills  my  heart  toward  my 
fellow-creatures,  estranged  from  the  harmonious 
government  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  a  labour 
attends  me,  that  they  may  be  gathered  to  this  peace 
able  habitation. 

In  being  inwardly  prepared  to  suffer  adversity  for 
Christ's  sake,  and  weaned  from  a  dependence  on  the 
arm  of  flesh,  we  feel,  that  there  is  a  rest  for  the  peo 
ple  of  God,  and  that  it  stands  in  a  perfect  resignation 
of  ourselves  to  his  holy  will.  In  this  condition,  all 
our  wants  and  desires  are  bounded  by  pure  wisdom, 
and  our  minds  wholly  attentive  to  the  council  of 
Christ,  inwardly  communicated,  which  hath  ap 
peared  to  me  as  a  habitation  of  safety  for  the  Lord's 
people,  in  times  of  outward  commotion  and  trouble; 
and  desires,  from  the  fountain  of  pure  love,  are 
opened  in  me,  to  invite  my  brethren  and  fellow- 
creatures  to  feel  for,  and  seek  after  that  which  ga 
thers  the  mind  into  it. 

JOHN  WOOLMAN. 

Mount  Holly,  New  Jersey, 
4th  Mouth,  1772. 


FINIS. 


Printed  by  William  Phillips,  George  Yard,  Ltfmbard  Street. 


RE1 


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